The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure revealed on Tuesday that an astounding 40,594 applications have been submitted in the second round of its prominent housing schemes—Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya. Launched on 24 September, the schemes aim to alleviate the housing crisis in the Malé region, with applications closing on Tuesday at 3 pm.
The ministry’s data indicates a nearly equal split between the two schemes: 19,347 applications have been submitted for land plots, 21,247 applications are for social housing flats.
The Binveriya scheme aims to allocate land from the Giravaru North lagoon or the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF). More than 4,000 plots are expected to be allocated in this round, covering a total area of 5,525,000 sqft.
The lot sizes will vary depending on the application: minimum lot size is 1,250 sqft for individual applications, joint applications can increase the land size by 400 sqft per additional person, applications with more than seven people will receive a total of 4,000 sqft.
While the first phase of this scheme was exclusive to those born in Male, the second round has been opened to residents who have lived in Malé for more than 20 years.
The Gedhoruveriya scheme focuses on providing 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom flats. In total, 8,000 flats are to be provided in this round. This follows a successful first phase where more than 13,000 people qualified for flats.
The allocation process for the first round is currently underway, with 6,500 plots allocated and 18,955 people qualifying for land. However, there has been concern over delays in the handover of registration. State Minister for Housing, Akram Kamaluddin, acknowledged the delay, attributing it to a flu outbreak among ministry staff.
“The work got delayed after many of the ministry’s employees fell sick with the flu that is currently going around. We are now working to complete the handover of registrations before the end of this month,” Kamaluddin assured.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has promised that the process will be complete before 5 November.
Currently, 4,000 flats are being constructed in the Malé area, with an additional 8,000 flats awarded to two foreign companies last August. 9,003 plots are being issued from locations such as Hulhumalé, Gulhifalhu, and Giraavaru Falhu under the first phase of the Binveriya scheme.
The ministry has pledged to hand over registrations to all eligible beneficiaries of the first phase before the month’s end.