President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that construction work on at least two multi-storey parking buildings in Malé will begin before the end of this year as part of efforts to address the capital’s long-standing parking shortage.
The President made the announcement while speaking on the fourth episode of the government’s weekly podcast, “The President’s Pulse.”
According to the President, the project had been delayed while the government explored the possibility of securing foreign assistance. However, he said the administration had now decided to move forward rather than wait any longer.
“God willing, we will begin work on at least two parking buildings this year,” he said.
The government views the facilities as part of a broader strategy to ease congestion and provide a long-term response to the worsening parking situation in Malé.
Separate parking infrastructure projects are already underway in Hulhumalé. A 13-storey parking complex is planned for Hulhumalé Phase I, with the project assigned to Batch Construction.
Once completed, the facility is expected to provide parking for more than 500 motorcycles and over 800 four-wheeled vehicles, making it the largest parking building developed in the country to date.
The Hulhumalé project is expected to be completed within two years and will be designed in line with international standards, with particular attention given to maintaining an efficient flow of traffic.
Commercial spaces are also expected to be included within the parking complexes.
Speaking about congestion in Malé, the President said the problem could not be resolved simply by reducing the number of vehicles. He said the government was also developing urban centres in other parts of the country to reduce the concentration of people and economic activity in the capital.
“If the number of people living here does not increase, the number of vehicles will not continue increasing either,” he said.
The President acknowledged that major infrastructure problems could not be fully resolved within two or three years. However, he said road development and the construction of parking facilities would provide considerable relief to residents.
Malé’s rapid population growth has been accompanied by a continued increase in the number of registered motor vehicles, worsening a parking problem that has remained unresolved for years.
