President Accuses Male’ City Council of Blocking $8.2 Million Market Project

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has accused the Male’ City Council of deliberately obstructing the government's flagship project to build a new integrated local market complex in the capital. The President claimed a lack of cooperation from the council is hindering the development of critical urban infrastructure designed to modernize the city's commercial landscape. During a recent press conference, President Muizzu detailed specific instances of obstruction, citing a previous road development project as a primary example. He stated that the council's failure to vacate necessary land prevented the construction of a planned sidewalk, leaving contractors with no choice but to lay tarmac directly up to the edge of the existing market building. "This is a project that is being deliberately obstructed by the council," the President said, noting that repeated requests for cooperation went unheeded. The government's ambitious plan aims to consolidate the fish market, local market, and tourist market into a single, modern six-storey facility. The project, financed by the Bank of Maldives, involves a USD 8.2 million contract awarded to Trusten Maldives Pvt. on March 21 of this year. The new complex will be constructed on a 15,525 square foot plot, with a total floor area exceeding 95,000 square feet. Once complete, the facility will house 455 stalls, providing a structured and sanitary environment for local vendors and shoppers alike. The project is slated for completion within one year and eight months. With a land vacation deadline of April 18, the President revealed that the government was forced to invoke legal provisions allowing the relevant Ministry to take over the land to ensure the project could proceed. This legal escalation underscores the tension between the central government and the local council over the management of the capital's limited land resources.