Vice President Faisal Naseem has announced that Kudagiri Picnic Island is scheduled to open on February 10.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the General Practice (GP) Clinic established by Hulhumalé Hospital at Hiya Tower 16 in Hulhumalé, Vice President Naseem highlighted the importance of opening the picnic island for the collective wellbeing of citizens. He said that people should spend their free time with friends and family and that Kudagiri is a three-star island that can accommodate 500-600 visitors at a time.
The final preparations are underway to open Kudagiri to the public. The government has established services including cafe's, huts, bathrooms, beaches, and many other public services.
Residents of the Greater Male’ Region currently do not have a convenient picnic location. The residents in the capital region lost the only picnic island within accessible proximity following the redevelopment of Kuda Bandos as a resort. It is an electoral pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to develop a picnic island near Male' City. The project is a joint effort of five government companies.
The master plan of the picnic island was developed by Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Eight hectares of land were reclaimed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for the development of the picnic island. The utility services of the island were developed jointly by Male’ Water and Sewerage Company Private Limited (MWSC), Fenaka Corporation Limited, and State Electric Company Limited (STELCO).
The government is carrying out the project in two phases. All services except accommodation will be available when the island is opened to the public. As such, a mosque, public toilets, changing rooms, and 15 huts as well as water sports facilities will be made available to the public. Accommodation blocks will be developed under the second phase of the project.