Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has contracted the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to conduct the land reclamation and shore protection project in Naifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll. The contract was signed by the Director General of the Planning Ministry Fathimath Shana Farooq and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MTCC Shahid Hussain Moosa.
The scope of the project includes the reclamation of 20.95 hectares of land, the construction of a 359m revetment, the construction of a 1,600 low-crested breakwater, and 180m groyne. The value of the project is USD9 million and is to be completed within 11 months.
Naifaru has a population of over 5,400 residents. The island was reclaimed in 2004 due to the increasing population. It led to the availability of land plots in 2012, spanning an area of 16 hectares within the newly reclaimed land. Subsequently, a project was initiated to establish 100 housing units on the island and the endeavor has reached completion with all units currently being inhabited.