Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) Adam Azim has said that the project to connect Madaveli and Hoadehdhoo with a bridge will give new life to the economy in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.
Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure awarded the contract to MTCC on October 26, 2021, to replace the existing causeway connecting Madaveli and Hoadehdhoo with a bridge. The project was awarded to MTCC at a price of USD5.45 million. The project is expected to be completed within 10 months.
The government decided to remove the Madaveli-Hoadehdhoo causeway and build a bridge after the causeway caused environmental problems for both islands. The causeway was built across the lagoon without a proper system to circulate the deep water and caused damage to the islands.
The ceremony to launch the project was attended by Parliamentarian Hussain Firushan, President of Madaveli Island Council Fiyaz Hassan, and President of Hoadehdhoo Island Council Hussain Waarish among senior officials of MTCC.
Speaking at the ceremony, CEO Azim said that Madaveli and Hoadehdhoo are two important islands in the south of Maldives, and the two islands are historically closely connected. Azim said the project to connect the two islands with a bridge will solve the environmental problems. He described the project as a very promising economic revival and assured the project will be completed within the planned period.
The will connect not only Madaveli and Hoadehdhoo but also connect Kannigila and Haadhoo in the same lagoon. Under the project, the state-owned company is tasked with removing the current causeway built to connect the two islands and constructing a 223m bridge to connect Madaveli to the uninhabited island of Haadhoo and another 160m bridge to connect Haadhoo to Hoadedhoo. The project also involves developing 262m of roads and constructing a 260m revetment as protection.