Minister: Enough land to build 10,700 flats, efforts underway to secure more

Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib says that the government has secured enough land in the greater Male’ area to build 10,700 flats, but that it was engaged in talks with the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to secure more land for housing.

The government is set to build total 10,700 flats in the greater Male’ area under various housing projects.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Muthalib noted that he previously said there was enough land in greater Male’ area to building 12,000.

But he said that the number of flats that can be built in Hulhumale’ Phase III is limited, given its close proximity to the Velana International Airport.

Muthalib said that though the Housing Ministry expected to be able to build 17-story towers there, the Civil Aviation Authority has established that the building height needs to be capped at 14 stories.

“I have said that 12,000 housing units can be built based on the land available in Male’ area. But given Hulhumale’ Phase III falls within the route for flights that land at the airport, the building height limits are different there. The Civil Aviation has stated that the building height in areas where we previously expected to construct 17-story buildings needs to be capped at 14 stories,” he said.

Muthalib said the Housing Ministry therefore currently does not have enough land available to build more than 10,700 flats.

“Therefore, the ministry currently does not have enough land available to build more than 10,700 units. However, the ministry is engaged in talks with the HDC to have some of the lands marked for other purposes diverted for housing,” he said.

The HDC manages the land in Hulhumale’.

Muthalib added that the ministry is also checking to see if there’s any land in Male’ City that can be utilized for housing.

“There’s a huge interest from the private sector, if the state provides free land as I mentioned and grant them incentives. There’s a huge interest from the private sector to build housing for first-time home buyers under the controlled rates and the category I mentioned,” he said.

Noting that many have been issued land from Hulhumale’ Phase III and Gulhifalhu, Muthalib added that the government would find ways for people to build on and live on their land.