The council building project funded by the Chinese government is scheduled to get underway in the middle of the year, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar has said.
The government announced that the 50 council's administrative offices will be developed with the assistance of China. In addition to these 50 councils, the government had previously announced developing 55 councils administrative offices under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) which has been awarded to Malaysia’s Hextar Global Sdn. Bhd.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Adam Shareef said a Chinese team will arrive in Maldives next month to conduct the necessary surveys before the project begins. According to the Minister, 10 islands have been identified for the surveys and the construction of the council secretariats will start in the middle of this year.
"The project will start by the middle of this year. The project has been divided into two phases. However, the entire project will be completed within two years,” he explained.
The other project undertaken by the Malaysian firm has already broken ground in several islands. Minister Adam Shareef said construction in those islands will commence next month.
"The construction will begin in Raa Atoll first. Then in Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu Atoll. Construction in all islands will start within this year,” he said.
The buildings will be constructed on one and two floors under the project. The Minister said the one-storey buildings would be completed within one year, while the two-storey buildings will be completed within two years and all the council secretariat buildings will be developed by mid-2027, he added.
The Ministry’s assessments found that 187 councils face significant space constraints and resource shortages.
The government aims to rebuild all run-down council buildings within its current term.