MDP govt secured financing for housing projects: Fayyaz

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ended his rule by signing agreements for the projects to be developed by the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) government to provide housing, the former economic minister Fayyaz Ismail said on Sunday.

MDP launched the campaign of the candidates contesting next month's by-election for Male City Council, at its camp at Sosun Magu and Ameer Ahmed Magu junction.

Speaking at the function, Fayyaz said the MDP's previous government's middle road plan was to develop Hulhumale, Gulhifalhu, Giraavarufalhu and Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) to solve the congestion in the city.

“We have started the work, the agreement has been signed and we walked out after attaining the funding,” he said.

Criticising the government's proposed housing project at K. Fushidhiggaru lagoon, he wondered why the people of Male were being taken to a place 45 minutes away from Male.

He said the Solih government wanted to develop a place for housing that would be connected by a bridge from Gulhi to UTF, which will make living there easier for the people.

"It took 15, 20 years to develop Hulhumale and it's only 20 minutes away. How can a place that can be reached in 45 minutes be developed anytime soon? No matter how much money is put in, there is no way for anyone to start living there for 10 or 15 years to come," he said.

Fayyaz urged the public to question why the government was not developing Giraavarufalhu, Gulhifalhu and UTF lagoons, as had been planned by the previous government. The budget does not mention the development of these facilities, he said.

The Fushidhiggaru lagoon dredging project is the most important and the biggest project of this government.

The budget includes a direct budget allocation of MVR 1.4 billion for the next three years. The budgeted expenditure for the project, which is planned to be implemented under the Ministry of Housing, is as follows:

The dredging work will be started within the first 100 days of the government. However, the MDP-majority Budget Committee of the Parliament has divided the money allocated by the government for the project into various items of the budget. The MVR 400 million allocated for the project in 2024 has been distributed to the housing projects planned by the previous government.

Thus: