Gov’t Announces Allocation of Flats from Social Housing Projects

The government has unveiled plans to allocate flats from ongoing social housing projects to eligible recipients who were previously overlooked in the allocation process for TATA-developed flats.

Formerly known as Arabiyya and Gaakoshi, the TATA-developed social housing projects have been rebranded as Male’ Central and Male’ Grand, respectively. The Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development has clarified that individuals who met the criteria to receive TATA social housing flats but did not secure them, despite arranging high-interest loans for the apartments, will now be accommodated under the current initiative.

Under the new policy, eligible recipients who missed out on previous social housing initiatives implemented during previous administrations will now be granted housing opportunities.

Furthermore, the ministry has outlined additional measures to alleviate the financial burden faced by recipients in repaying loans obtained for social housing purposes.

During Mohamed Nasheed’s presidency, 280 housing units were developed on the former Arabiyya School ground and Gaakoshi. As part of a compensation agreement, TATA was awarded plots of land where Naadhee and Odion are situated for the development and sale of high-end luxury apartments. Additionally, TATA was granted the task of developing a tourist resort in Lhaviyani Atoll, Lhossalafushi.

However, the contract with TATA was terminated in 2017 under the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom due to delays in project mobilisation despite an initially agreed contractual timeframe.

The administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih later resumed the agreement with a settlement reached in January 2022.

Despite TATA failing to fulfil its contractual obligations by developing only 288 out of the agreed 500 flats over the span of 12 years, the decision to resume the agreement faced public scrutiny.