News Desk
NAIFARU, Lhaviyani Atoll — Land reclamation work in the island of Naifaru has officially concluded, adding 45 hectares of new land to the densely populated urban center, according to state contractors and official reports.
The ambitious expansion project, executed by the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), commenced in October following an official visit to the island by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Alongside the newly reclaimed land, coastal protection work is currently 24 percent complete, with crews actively installing rock revetments to safeguard the expanded coastline.
The comprehensive protection framework entails constructing 1,813 meters of boulder revetment, an 803-meter breakwater, and a 474-meter groynes system.
Home to a population exceeding 5,000 residents—and slated for development as a designated regional urban center—Naifaru has long grappled with severe land shortages. The expansion is designed to address pressing housing demands while broadening local economic and social development opportunities.
The scope of the project was expanded significantly from an initial 21-hectare plan to align with the government’s wider regional development strategy. Naifaru previously underwent a 16-hectare land reclamation in 2004 to ease space constraints, which later accommodated dedicated housing units. With the latest addition, the total land area of the island now stands at 55 hectares.
