Practical work on Male' seawall renovation project to begin

The government has signed an agreement with a Japanese company to begin preparations for the renovation of Male's seawall under Japan’s grant aid programme.

The Ministry of Construction signed the agreement with Toyo Construction Company Limited to launch the first phase of the “Project for Disaster Resilience Enhancement in Male' Island”, funded through the Government of Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme today.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the ministry. State Minister Ibrahim Thoaam Mohamed signed on behalf of the government, while Deputy General Manager Izawa Kan signed for Toyo Construction.

The ministry has not yet announced the exact date when on-site construction work will begin.

Under the first phase, renovation work will focus on:

According to the ministry, the contract is valued at 700 million Japanese yen (approximately MVR 70.8 million), with a project duration of one year and four months.

The main works include the repair and reconstruction of sections of the seawall along the eastern and northern sides of Male'.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing USD 10.5 million (approximately MVR 161.9 million) for the construction phase of the project. The funding was arranged through an exchange of notes signed between the Maldives and Japan on 26 July last year.

Design and consultancy work for the project was carried out by Japan based Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited.

The renovation aims to strengthen Male’s outer seawall, improve drainage infrastructure and reduce flood risks during heavy rainfall and sea swells.

The existing seawall surrounding Male' was constructed between 1998 and 2006 with Japanese assistance. It played a critical role in mitigating damage during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.