Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo has been given city status, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced on Wednesday night.
The announcement was made during a rally on the island as the President campaigns for re-election.
“Thinadhoo is the fifth city established in Maldives. Congratulations Thinadhoo city,” Solih said, noting that the island meets the requirements for a city.
The President claimed that he had signed a decree to award city status to Thinadhoo before embarking on his campaign trip.
Earlier this year, Solih visited the island during the presidential primary of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and promised to return to announce the island as a city.
When Solih arrived on the island on Wednesday evening, crowds gathered near the harbor and chanted slogans claiming that Thinadhoo is a city. Banners were also put up all around the island.
The registered population of Thinadhoo was recorded at 8,000 in July, but the Local Government Authority (LGA) had advised the President that Thinadhoo could be granted city status.
In addition to Thinadhoo, the capital Male', Addu, Fuvahmulah and Kulhudhuffushi are also designated as cities.
Numerous infrastructure projects have been carried out in Thinadhoo over the past five years, with several projects still underway.
An OPD area, a labor room and four private rooms of the NICU have been built for the hospital while the China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC) has been awarded the contract to construct a 100-bed tertiary hospital.
A handball court, outdoor gym, ice plant, COVID emergency facility and drainage system have also been installed. Reclamation of 13 hectares for an industrial zone and building 200 housing units are underway.
In addition, 6.5 km of road is under construction while the construction of an Islamic Center is also ongoing. The work of the football stadium, the extension building and the accommodation block of the Maldives National University (MNU) campus are also continuing.
Thinadhoo was deserted in 1962 and remained uninhabited for four years. The island was repopulated in 1966.
