Ministry to allow Tata flats in Naadhee grounds

The government has decided to uphold its agreement with India’s Tata Group to build a block of housing flats in former Naadhee grounds in Male’, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said.

The agreements to build a number of housing flats in the capital, including flats in former Nadhee grounds, were signed by former president Mohamed Nasheed during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

The previous administration, lead by former president Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, decided to terminate the agreement with Tata, shift the flats from Naadhee to Hulhumale’, and construct a Supreme Court building on the Naadhee premises.

However, following protests by Tata Group, the government has allocated a separate space for the Supreme Court building and reinstate its agreement with Tata to continue construction of flats on Naadhee grounds.

In an interview with Sun Online, Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizzu said that the government will also uphold its commitment with Tata to build high-end luxury flats in Odeon, Maafannu and similar standards flats in Naadhee grounds in Henveyru.

“They [Odeon and Nadhee grounds] will receive high-end luxury flats, because people in Male’ need more than social level housing. Middle and high income owners are also in need of housing,” said Dr Muizzu.

He said that the construction of flats in Naadhee grounds is expected to begin early next year, but added that an exact date will be decided after discussions with Tata, which are currently on-going.

Housing Ministry earlier said that construction of a 198-flat block in Gaakoshi and a 45-flat block in former Arabiyya School grounds - both undertaken by Tata Group and halted midway - have been completed 33 percent and 35 percent respectively.