The Government of Maldives is set to sign on an agreement with AFCONS on Thursday, 26th August that will see India undertaking the largest ever infrastructural project in Maldives.
Moreover, the newest infrastructural project in Maldives will see the country’s capital Male’ City connected with Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi through an over-water bridge spanning 6.74 kilometers along with a causeway link.
The project is funded under a grant and line of credit worth USD100 million and USD400 million respectively, making this the largest and the most expensive infrastructure project to be ever executed in Maldives.
The Greater Male’ Connectivity Project (GMCP) was earlier requested by incumbent president of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdulla Shahid during the visit of EAM Dr. S Jaishankar, during September of 2019.
Furthermore, the GMCP project will aim to link Maldives capital with the international port planned at Gulhifalhu, which is also under the Indian line of credit, along with the industrial island of Thilafushi to provider stronger logistical connectivity.
While the infrastructure project expects a 2-year work duration, the DPR has been prepared by Hong Kong’s renowned infrastructure consultant M/s Arup Limited.
The project scope entails, three navigation bridges of 140 meters in width spanning across the deep channel between the islands of Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi along with a 1.41 kilometers long marine viaduct in deep water and a 2.32 kilometers marine viaduct in shallow water or land.
Additional components include 2.96 kilometers of at-grade roads while the land interchanges on Male’ and Vilimale’ will be signalized junctions and roundabouts at both Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
Furthermore, the project also includes bus terminals at each of the islands near the junctions with the mainline. In addition to this, to maintain environmental preservation and sustainable renewable measures, the project is expected to utilize solar power for lighting with the panels set to be installed on top of lamp posts and at specific lengths of the bridge parapets.
The GMCP comes under the USD800 million line of credit established between the governments of Maldives and India during president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first state visit to India in 2018.
Moreover, during Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s state visit to India an economic package of USD1.4 billion was announced as well.