As part of the Ras Malé development project, Malé and Ras Malé are to be linked via an underwater tunnel.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced this while speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Malé City Council’s newly elected Mayor and councilors held at Dharubaaruge on Monday evening.

Taking the podium at the event, Muizzu revealed that the planned underwater tunnel linking Malé and Ras Malé would entail a railway offering passengers to witness the underwater beauty of Maldives.

Adding that this new infrastructure project would contribute immensely to the tourism industry, the president noted that his administration has already begun working on the feasibility studies for the project.

Potential developers will be sought under the project to access the technical capacity to build the tunnel.

The Maldivian leader went on to urge council members nationwide to engage in discussions with their constituents while undertaking their duties and responsibilities.

Expressing commitment to fully empower island councils and reinforcing their autonomy and decision-making capabilities, the president acknowledged the recent decision reached following discussions with his Cabinet of Ministers, to grant island councils the authority to incorporate uninhabited islands and lagoons in their atolls under their jurisdiction under specific guidelines, in a bid to boost their revenue and to establish a transparent mechanism that ensures atoll councils fully capitalize on the financial gains from commercial units in the capital Malé City that are associated with their respective atolls.

In addition to this, Muizzu touched upon the development prospects of the congested capital, adding that the ongoing development projects and the completion of the Ras Malé development project would satisfy all housing needs of the city within his five-year presidential tenure.

Highlighting that the redevelopment of the capital’s roads and the allocation of parking areas would ease the challenges surfacing.

Further, he detailed his administration’s efforts to develop a 100-bed tertiary hospital in Villimalé, initiating construction of the new fish market in the capital after the fasting month of Ramadan, authorizing new residential buildings to rehouse the tenants of the five buildings namely the Sinamalé and Malé Hiya flat residents, as well as the 500 housing units commissioned for Villimalé, among other significant development projects.

Newly-elected Mayor of Malé City Council, Adam Azim were officially inducted into office on Monday evening, alongside councillors representing three constituencies; Central Henveiru, South Maafannu and South Henveiru.

Their oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir.

The newly inaugurated officials signed their oaths, formalizing their commitment to their roles and responsibilities during Monday’s ceremony.