Businesses operating at the food court near Malé’s southwest harbour have been instructed to vacate their units within 90 days, clearing the area for planned commercial harbour development.
State Trading Organisation (STO), which manages the premises, confirmed that notices had been issued to all 26 operators following discussions with the businesses at the site.
Operators are required to hand their units back to STO within 90 days of receiving the notice. Their tenancy agreements will be terminated once the properties are returned to the company.
STO said operators with outstanding rent or maintenance payments would receive details of the amounts owed and a proposed payment schedule before the notice period ends.
The company has linked the decision to plans to develop and expand commercial harbour facilities in the surrounding area. However, detailed plans for the food court site have not yet been publicly announced.
The decision comes as the government prepares to relocate commercial harbour operations from Malé to Thilafushi. Harbour-related facilities are expected to remain or be developed in the area following the relocation and the opening of the Thilamalé Bridge.
The food court opened in July 2018 following an investment of around MVR 30 million. It contains 26 units measuring 960, 1,260 and 1,660 square feet.
The development replaced cafés that previously operated at the location and has since become a widely used dining area in the capital.
