Alia contracted to convert Convention Center into MVR 161 mn hospital

Local company, Alia Construction has been contracted to convert the Equatorial Convention Center in Hithadhoo, Addu City into a 100-bed, MVR 161.8 million hospital.

The contract was signed in a ceremony held at Ministry of Housing this Monday morning by Minister of Housing, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Director of Alia, Atho Ali.

Alia has been contracted to complete the project within one-and-a-half years.

Signing the contract, Dr. Muizzu commented that constructing a new building for the hospital would have cost twice as much as the conversion.

He said that the results of engineering assessment done on the building had come back with no issues. And that Saudi Fund for Development and OPEC Fund for International Development had approved loans to fund the project.

Ministry of Housing reported that the conversion would bring with it significant structural changes to the building, including the hall being converted into two floors.

He said that the Convention Center was a great waste in spending by former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration, and that the current government wanted to optimize the usage of the building.

He also said that based on audit reports, the building was also linked with corruption within Nasheed’s administration.

“Convention Center wasn’t put into much use and lay abandoned. It’s a great waste of expenditure by former President, Nasheed’s government,” said Muizzu.

Muizzu said that despite the concerns raised by citizens of Addu City, converting the Convention Center into a hospital was in the best interest of the people.