The Government has announced that major road development projects in Malé and Vilimalé are scheduled to commence before the end of the year.

The announcement was made by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu during a press conference held on Saturday, where he identified the deteriorating condition of the capital’s roads, alongside housing issues, as one of the key concerns of the public.

According to the President, preliminary survey work for the project is already underway, being carried out by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC). He expressed confidence that physical work on the initiative would begin within the coming month.

The development follows the signing of a bilateral agreement between the Maldivian Government and the Government of China during President Dr Muizzu’s official visit to China in January. As part of the agreement, a team of technical experts from China visited the Maldives to conduct feasibility studies and assessments, which were concluded in November of the previous year.

In addition to the broader initiative supported through Chinese assistance, the Government has separately commissioned a domestic road project aimed at upgrading the northern section of Malé’s outer ring road. This particular segment, stretching 830 metres from the MTCC Henveiru Ferry Terminal to the local market, has been awarded to MTCC and will be funded through State resources.

The scope of work for this segment includes the expansion of the roadway by extending the key wall, installation of a comprehensive drainage system, construction of pedestrian sidewalks, road surfacing, and the addition of new road markings and signage.

This portion of the road network was not covered under the Chinese grant initiative, prompting the Government to allocate national funds to ensure its timely development.