A "necklace of modern buildings and gardens" will be strung from Uthuru Thila Falhu to Fushidhiggaru over the next five years, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said on Friday.
Addressing the nation after taking the oath of office, Muizzu said housing and land ownership were critical issues facing the Maldives, which have caused family, social religious and health problems.
God willing, a golden era for land ownership and home ownership will be brought by this new presidential term that has started. A necklace of the most modern buildings and gardens will be strung from Uthuru Thila Falhu up to Fushidhiggaru by this new government of yours," the President said.
Documentation and other work needed for the project have already been completed, he said, adding that modern new cities would emerge from Maldivian lagoons in the near future.
A sustainable and fair development mechanism is needed for the Maldives and the new administration would carry out its development activities towards that end, the President said.
President Muizzu's manifesto proposed new development of the Male' region and facilitating home construction in order to resolve the housing crisis in Male'.
Providing flats and land plots to all eligible citizens was a campaign pledge.
The manifesto planned the reclamation of three lagoons near Male' for the purpose, which are the Gulhifalhu, Giraavaru and Fushidhiggaru lagoons.
He pledged to provide 65,000 land plots to build homes in the Male' region, which are to be awarded from Hulhumale', Vilimale' and land freed up from redeveloping Male'.
In line with Muizzu's pledge, MVR 400 million was allocated in next year's budget for Fushidhiggaru's land reclamation.
The lagoon's reclamation was also included among projects to be launched during the first 100 days of his administration.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration launched several projects to resolve the Male' housing crisis, including the awarding of plots for native residents of Male' from newly-reclaimed land in Gulhifalhu, Giraavaru and Hulhumale'.
The former government also planned to reclaim Uthuru Thila Falhu to award plots of land.
Regional development
In his inaugural address, President Muizzu also pledged to develop seven urban centers along with integrated development zones in the north and south.
The plan to develop other regions in the country under a "modern concept" includes medium-term and long-term goals, he said.
The development plan would be formulated with the full participation of the public, he said, appealing for academics and experts to assist the government with their research and experience.
The new government would seek public opinion soon and formulate a 20-year development masterplan based on the input, after which legal authority would be vested in the plan, he said.
According to Muizzu's manifesto, the main hub of the northern development zone - which covers Haa Alif, Haa Dhaal and Shaviyani atolls - is Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi.
The main hub of the southern development zone with Gaaf Alif, Gaaf Dhaal, Fuvahmulah and Addu atolls is to be Addu City.
Three urban centers are to be developed north of Male' and four centers south of the capital.
