Velidhoo Rehabilitation Center project mired in delays, site sealed off as progress remains unseen

Athif Hussain, President of the Velidhoo Island Council, has raised serious concerns over the slow progress of the National Drug Agency Rehabilitation Center project initiated by the current administration in Velidhoo island of Noonu atoll.

The project, inaugurated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on 23 July 2025, was awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) with a budget of MVR 1.5 million.

Despite the time that has passed since its launch, the project has shown no meaningful progress.

Compounding these concerns, the entire construction site has been enclosed with fencing, completely blocking public visibility and preventing any monitoring of activities within the area. In an interview with RaajjeTV, Athif said the actual status of the work remains unclear. He pointed out that, like several other development projects, this initiative is also advancing at an unusually slow pace. He went on to note that the site is so thoroughly screened that observing any work inside would require the use of a drone.

Athif also responded to recent remarks by President Muizzu, who attributed delays in multiple projects to a lack of cooperation or failure by local councils to allocate land. Athif rejected these claims as entirely false, stating that no project in Velidhoo has been obstructed by the council. He stressed that councils across the country continue to extend full cooperation to the government’s development initiatives.