Residents of No. 76 Village, surrounding areas raise concerns at government outreach

Residents of No. 76 Village and neighbouring communities used an outreach on Tuesday to directly raise longstanding concerns with senior government officials, who met with them to address local development needs and outline ongoing efforts to improve public services.

The engagement was led by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Works, Bishram Kuppen, who attended on behalf of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. According to officials, the objective was to document the issues affecting residents and ensure that the relevant agencies move swiftly to resolve them.

Minister Croal told the gathering that the government remains committed to ensuring consistent service delivery across all sectors and communities. He provided updates on the rollout of the Single Window Platform for faster planning permits, and referenced plans to reform the administration of government services by establishing a single interface for public transactions. He said this initiative is expected to significantly improve efficiency and reduce delays for citizens.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Works, and Mayor Imran Amin were also present, enabling residents to raise issues spanning multiple sectors.

Participants highlighted several concerns, including the absence of street lights in unsafe areas, the need for improved access roads and bridges, and drainage upgrades in residential areas and recreational spaces. Residents said these longstanding problems have affected daily mobility, safety, and overall quality of life. The open-floor format allowed community members to directly question agency officials and receive immediate feedback.

Government officials gave assurances that the matters raised will be followed up and addressed by the respective agencies.

For many residents, the meeting represented a rare opportunity to engage directly with decision-makers. Several attendees expressed appreciation for what they described as a hands-on, responsive approach to community concerns.