The Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works has announced that the construction of secretariat buildings for ten local councils is set for completion by the end of this year.
In January, the ministry signed a contract with Malaysia-based Hextar Global to construct council secretariat buildings across 55 islands. The agreement, formalised on 20 January, employs a contractor-finance model designed to optimise resource allocation for public development projects.
Providing an update on the initiative, State Minister Ahmed Rasheed confirmed that Hextar Global is currently preparing detailed Bills of Quantities (BOQs), a crucial step before civil works can begin. The scope of these works, he said, has already been defined, ensuring operational readiness. According to Rasheed, local councils will invite bids for the civil works, with a commitment to prioritise local contractors to maximise community engagement and domestic expertise.
The project, to be completed within three years, includes the construction of fully furnished and equipped secretariat buildings. Rasheed expressed confidence that the ten secretariats under active development would be operational before the year’s end, reflecting the rapid pace of progress.
Work has already commenced on 13 islands with groundbreaking ceremonies, spanning three atolls: Uligan, Maarandhoo, Thakanadhoo, Utheemu, Filladhoo, and Muraidhoo in Haa Alifu Atoll; Maakurathu, Fainu, Kinolhas, Innamaadhoo, Rasmaadhoo, and Maduvvari in Raa Atoll; and Rinbudhoo in Dhaalu Atoll.
The administration has set a target to complete secretariat buildings on 105 islands during its current tenure. This endeavour seeks to replace ageing and inadequate facilities, addressing long-standing space constraints that have hindered the efficiency of local governance. Once complete, the initiative is expected to fulfil 70 percent of the administration’s goal to enhance administrative capabilities of local councils across the country.