Malé council considers buying private land for parking facilities

The Malé City Council has decided to explore the acquisition or exchange of private land as part of a broader land use strategy aimed at addressing parking and public space challenges in the capital.

The proposal was submitted by Machangolhi South Councillor Farhan Shafeeu during the council's official meeting on Wednesday.

In a paper presented to council members, Farhan proposed that the council purchase private plots offered for sale in Malé and use the land for parking facilities.

According to Farhan, growing population density and increasing vehicle numbers have reduced available public space and created pressure on existing parking infrastructure.

He argued that acquiring private plots that have remained unused for extended periods could help address some of these issues.

Among the proposals outlined in the paper were plans for the council to announce its intention to purchase private land offered for sale in areas experiencing space constraints, including Machangolhi South.

The proposal also suggested working with private-sector partners through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangements to develop multi-storey facilities on acquired land without direct expenditure from the council's budget.

During the meeting, Mayor Adam Azim said the proposal was consistent with objectives already being considered under the council's Reethi Malé initiative.

According to Azim, the land use plan currently under preparation includes proposals to the government aimed at increasing land available for public use.

These include a proposal under which owners willing to surrender private land in Malé could receive alternative plots in Hulhumalé or Gulhifalhu as compensation.

The draft plan also proposes that undeveloped government-owned land in Malé be made available for public purposes.

Azim recommended that Farhan's proposal be referred to the council's Urban Planning Committee so that it could be incorporated into the land use plan currently being prepared.

Councillors present at Wednesday's meeting voted unanimously in favour of referring the matter to the committee for further consideration.

The committee is expected to review the proposal as part of the wider planning process for future land use and urban development initiatives in the capital.