The Maldivian government has signed on with India’s AFCONS Infrastructure for the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project (GMCP) which is set to link Maldives capital Male’ City with Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
Moreover, the mega infrastructure project that aims to bridge four neighboring islands via an over-water bridge structure and causeway link is regarded as the largest ever such project to be carried in the Maldives; exceeding that of the Sinamale’ Bridge project.
The signing ceremony held on Thursday morning, 26th August, took place between Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s Permanent Secretary Ms. Zeeniya Ahmed Hameed; who signed on behalf of the state and Mr. R. Andha Kumar, the Director of AFCON signed on behalf of the contractor.
Furthermore, the signing ceremony was graced by Minister of Finance Mr. Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Economic Development Mr. Fayyaz Ismail along with Indian Ambassador to Maldives Mr. Sanjay Sudheer.
The project is funded under a grant and line of credit worth USD100 million and USD400 million respectively; a total of USD500 million is put towards the development of the connectivity bridge, making this the largest and the most expensive infrastructure project to be ever executed in Maldives.
The project scope entails the development of a 6.74 kilometer bridge connecting Male’ City along with Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu and the industrial island of Thilafushi with three navigation bridges of 140 meters in width spanning across the deep channel between the islands.
In addition to this, the project will see the development of a 1.41 kilometers long marine viaduct in deep water and a 2.32 kilometers marine viaduct in shallow water or land.
The bridge will include 2.96 kilometers of at-grade roads and the land interchanges on Male’ and Vilimale’ will have signalized junctions and roundabouts at both Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
Furthermore, the project includes bus terminals at each of the islands near the junctions with the mainline. The project is also expected to utilize solar power for lighting with the panels set to be installed on top of lamp posts and at specific lengths on the bridge parapets.
The Greater Male’ Connectivity Project comes under the USD800 million line of credit established between the governments of Maldives and India during Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first state visit to India in 2018.
During Maldives president’s state visit, an economic package of USD1.4 billion was announced as well.
