Malé City Council has revealed that they received 2,624 application forms for slots in the newly-constructed travelers’ market, by the time the deadline was up.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, Deputy Mayor Shamau Shareef stated that administrative work is currently underway and that they will first be accessing the applications.
They will begin accessing once a committee is formed with the inclusion of members of the relevant ministries, said Shamau.
We will begin the process after forming a small committee comprising of other offices. Relevant ministries like the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture”Deputy Mayor Shamau
However, the council is yet to finalize a date to begin giving out slots or how many slots will be allocated in the market.
The City Council opened the opportunity for interested individuals to apply for the slots from 1 – 19 December.
The council had given vendors to clear out the market by 31 August to begin the development project, there were 160 slots in the market when the vendors were given the deadline to vacate the market. The council initially decided to station 63 stalls in the new market, however, several councils voiced discontent over the matter.
Mayor Shifa Mohamed stated that the market stalls have a high demand and the government’s policy is to offer slots to as many people as possible.
It was earlier revealed that the new market will measure eight by ten feet and will offer local products, as well as imported foods that may be sold after registering at the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). Expatriate workers in the travelers’ market will have to be registered under the name of the stall owner after it is opened for business, revealed the council.
