The government has initiated debate on the Urban Development Bill, which seeks to demarcate urban areas and empower the urban development authority to run them.

The bill was submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the Government by Villingili MP Azim Abdul Aziz.

The bill was submitted by Vilingili MP Azim Abdul Azeez on behalf of the state. The bill proposes categorising Maldivian territories into metropolitan areas, urban regions, and urban centres based on population.

The bill seeks to declare areas with a total population of more than 150,000 including the city, as metropolitan areas. If the total population residing in the area is 50,000 the area will be declared an urban centre, and if the population is 10,000 it would be an urban region.

According to the bill, urban areas will be decided by the President as advised by the minister.

The bill states that while such designated areas fall within the jurisdiction of a local council, the Urban Development Authority will have all the powers to plan and develop an area. The councils will only take care of the municipal services of the area.

According to the Bill, once the Urban Development Authority is constituted for the purpose, all the legal responsibilities, responsibilities, assets and resources of the urban planning and urban development departments under the planning ministry will be transferred to the authority along with the employees.

The planning and development of such areas shall be taken over by the authority as per an agreement with the council of the area, according to the bill.