The Maldives Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (MNPHI) has announced state’s plan of developing six new domestic airports.
Moreover, the ministry announced plans to seek financial assistance for the development of these airports that will reportedly cost a collective USD133 million (MVR2 billion) under the cross-subsidy model in six local islands.
Earlier, the government had announced plans of developing airports in four different regions in the country, while opening the opportunity for interested developers.
The very first batch of islands with the prospect of airport development, announced by the ministry include;
- Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo
- Baa atoll Bilathfahi
- Thaa atoll Vilufushi
- Haa Dhaal atoll Makunudhoo
In addition to these, the state had included Faafu atoll Magoodhoo along with opportunity to develop a domestic airport in Raa atoll though an island has not been designated yet.
Moreover, the ministry projects highest expenditure to be incurred towards the development of Vilufushi airport. The estimated total cost for all the announced new airports are;
- Th. Vilufushi – USD33,300,000
- B. Bilethfahi – USD23,600,000
- Raa Atoll – USD23,600,000
- H.Dh. Makunudhoo – USD23,300,000
- B. Thulhaadhoo – USD21,900,000
- F. Magoodhoo – USD8,200,000
Each airport will be allocated as a separate project and interested developer parties must specify the airport project or projects they will develop and finance. Interested parties exclusively financing for the project must spend a minimum of USD5 million under cross-subsidy basis.
The projects are open for proposal submission without invitation to bidding, and interested parties are required to submit their proposals to Ministry of Economic Development via mail at [email protected].