The Mohamed Muizzu administration has disbursed MVR 46 million to Capital Marine and Civil Construction (CMCC) to complete the land reclamation project at Giraavaru Falhu. The reclamation of Giraavaru Falhu was commissioned to the Sri Lanka-based CMCC under the Binveriya housing scheme initiated by the previous Ibrahim Mohamed Solih administration.
The project was initiated under the Solih administration’s efforts to address the housing crisis in the Greater Malé region. Its goal was to create additional land for housing and infrastructure development.
The Muizzu administration channelled MVR 46 million to CMCC through the Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC), which oversees the development of Giraavaru Falhu. CMCC, in collaboration with Netherlands-based Boskalis, has been responsible for the physical land reclamation work.
The Giraavaru Falhu land reclamation is carried out in three phases. The first two phases have been completed. The final phase, set to begin soon, will reclaim an additional 90 hectares of land. Satellite images indicate that around 80 percent of the project is complete, but uncertainties remain.
While the project progressed, the Solih administration announced a list of applicants selected to receive land plots from Giraavaru Falhu. 2,210 recipients opted to relocate their plots to Gulhifalhu, seizing an opportunity provided by the Muizzu administration.
CMCC was also the initial contractor for the Muizzu administration’s flagship Rasmalé project, which included the land reclamation of Fushidhiggaru Falhu lagoon. However, the agreement was recently terminated due to CMCC’s inability to secure additional financing through a contractor finance model.
President Muizzu promised to complete the Fushidhiggaru Falhu reclamation, launched in December 2023, within eight months. However, only 3 percent of the land reclamation has been completed within seven months.