The opening of Kudagiri Picnic Island has been postponed.
The government was working to open Kudagiri on Independence Day, marked on July 26.
The Planning Ministry Monday said the opening of Kudagiri was postponed because the greening work and facilities in the island had not yet been completed. Although the opening of Kudagiri has been postponed, the Planning Ministry has not given a specific date on which the island will be opened to the public.
On June 16, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited Kudagiri to inspect the progress of the works. During the visit, the President toured the island and learned about the work done so far, the work currently underway and what more needed to be done. Vice President Faisal Naseem regularly visits the island to closely monitor the progress of the project.
While power company STELCO has started laying electricity cables to supply electricity to the picnic island, the construction of the island's power plant has been handed over to Fenaka. A mosque is currently being built in the island and basic services such as accommodation buildings and toilets are being arranged. The jetty work has now reached completion.
The Planning Ministry last year awarded the development of a picnic island on Kudagiri lahoon to MTCC. The project was awarded to be completed in 150 days at a cost of MVR 41.4 million. Eight hectares of land were dredged, and397.27 meter rock breakwater and 428.32 meter rock groyne were constructed on the island.
A picnic island for residents of Male' City is a presidential pledge of President Solih.
