President imparts expansive vision for development across Haa Dhaalu Atoll

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has described his administration's expansive plans to further energize the economy of Haa Dhaalu Atoll, in addition highlighting a number of initiatives that will improve the standard of living for citizens in Boduthiladhunmathi.

The President made the remarks while speaking to candidates of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) contesting for seats in the upcoming Local Council elections from Haa Dhaalu Atoll as part of MDP's Rahvehi Fathis campaign series.

President Solih detailed his administrations plans to further develop and modernize Hanimaadhoo Airport in order to further boost employment and tourism in the region, in addition to providing special loans for those operating guesthouses in the atoll.

He also revealed that funds had been secured from Kuwait in order to construct an additional hospital on Kulhudhuffushi island in order to further improve the quality of health services available in the atoll. President Solih noted that with changes brought about by his administration, citizens of 184 islands had sough healthcare from Kulhudhuffushi island, and expressed hopes that services will be expanded further following the completion of the hospital. The new hospital to be constructed in Kulhudhuffushi is expected to open and provide services to the public in March this year.

Touching down on the topic of Kulhudhuffushi harbor, Solih said that the issue of the harbor remaining unutilized was a big one, and that his administration was now working to redesign the harbor. However, he noted that the harbor had now received loans, and that it would be a challenge to implement design changes at this time.

In his meeting with MDP Local Council candidates for Haa Dhaalu Atoll, the president also noted that no housing projects had been initiated in Kulhudhuffushi since 2010. He revealed that the bidding process for housing projects on the island was now complete, and that work would be assigned to a developer in the upcoming month of March.

President Solih also revealed that a project to develop and modernize roads on Kulhdhuffushi island had been assigned to Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC), and that work on the project was slated to begin shortly. He also remarked that work to install light fixtures at the Kulhudhuffushi airport would be complete in two months time, and that the project had now been tendered.

Acknowledging the many difficulties currently faced by citizens of Haa Dhaalu Atoll, President Solih assured that his administration would be working to resolve them, and expressed confidence that the work would yield fruitful results.