Two Multi-Storey Parking Buildings in Malé Near Construction Award

The government is moving ahead with plans to develop additional multi-storey parking facilities in the Greater Malé Region, with contracts for two new buildings in Malé expected to be awarded soon, Economic Development, Transport and Trade Minister Mohamed Saeed has said.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, Saeed said the construction process for parking facilities planned at the Heenaamaage parking zone and Sosun Magu parking zone is nearing the contracting stage.

The projects form part of a broader government plan to establish seven parking facilities across Malé, Hulhumalé and Villingili in an effort to ease the persistent shortage of parking spaces in the capital region. Once completed, the planned facilities are expected to provide more than 2,600 spaces for cars and over 1,000 spaces for motorcycles and other two-wheelers.

Saeed said the government has expanded its parking policy to include five additional options, while work continues on developing purpose-built parking structures as a longer-term solution to the congestion caused by the limited availability of parking in Malé.

According to the minister, discussions are already underway with a party identified to develop a modern parking facility at the Heenaamaage site. He said the awarding of the relevant construction works is expected to take place in the near future.

The government’s parking strategy comes as the increasing number of vehicles in the capital continues to put pressure on the island’s limited road and parking infrastructure. The lack of designated parking spaces has contributed to vehicles being parked along roads and in other areas, adding to congestion and making movement through densely populated parts of Malé more difficult.

The government has also begun work on a major parking project in Hulhumalé Phase 1. In March, the foundation was laid for a 13-storey parking building, including a basement, which is planned to accommodate more than 1,100 vehicles, including cars and motorcycles.

The Hulhumalé project, together with the planned facilities in Malé and Villingili, forms part of the administration’s broader effort to expand parking capacity and address transportation and urban infrastructure challenges in the Greater Malé area.

With the two Malé projects approaching the contracting stage, the government is now expected to move into the construction phase of more of its planned parking infrastructure in the capital.