Maldives signs contract worth $500mn for India-Funded Mega Project
27 Aug 2021 16:40:04
New Delhi, August 27: On Thursday, the Maldives sealed a contract for the implementation of a connectivity project which India is funding. This will be the biggest infrastructure initiative to happen in the Maldives.
A 6.74 km-long bridge with a causeway link is to be built which will connect the capital city Male with neighbouring islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi, under the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) project.
The project is funded under a grant of USD 100 million and from India, a Line of Credit of USD 400 million. Officials say that this will be the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives. The contract for the works of this mega-project was signed between the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of Maldives and the Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.
The biggest connectivity project in the Maldives till date is the Sinamale bridge which is 1.4 km, and is constructed below Chinese assistance connecting Male with Hulhule and Hulhumale. Although enhancing connective has been the major priority for Maldives and India both.
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The Indian High Commissioner, Sunjay Sudhir, said the GMCP is not just the biggest project India is doing in the Maldives but the biggest infrastructure project Maldives has ever had overall. The GMCP agreement was signed between India and Maldives in 2020.
The project involves the construction of series of bridges and causes amounting to 6.7 km long connecting Male to Villingli (the industrial zone situated in Thilafushi), along with the International Port at Gulhifalhu.
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The current port of Male has already reached its maximum capacity; hence the Maldives has come to the decision of shift it from Male port to Gulhifalhu island. This brought to life the need to construct link bridges to the 3 industrial islands for seamless connectivity.