Ministry of Economic Development has announced that the redevelopment of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport will start in December.
JMC Projects Limited of India was awarded the contract on September 25 to redevelop the airport. The economic ministry said the contractor is now making the necessary preparations to start the practical work of the airport.
The Spokesperson at the President's Office Miuvaan Mohamed told a press conference that the airport development project will bring about major changes in the northern region. He said that once the airport is completed and connected to the existing Raajje Transport Link (RTL) ferry system, the area will be opened for tourism and additional economic activities.
Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail had said earlier that the government will make efforts to complete the redevelopment of the airport before the end of the current presidential term.
The project to redevelop Hanimaadhoo International Airport is being funded by loan assistance from the EXIM Bank of India and includes major infrastructure and operational upgrades and building infrastructure to meet the future growth of traffic to the Maldives. It includes developing a 2.46km runway to enable larger aircraft such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s to land at the airport. It also includes the construction of a modern terminal to accommodate 1.3 million passengers annually, as well as the construction of a cargo terminal, fuel farms, and a fire station.
The government has said the completion of the project will result in an increase in tourist arrivals in the northern atolls, which will result in more job opportunities and benefit local businesses. The government has stated that one of the biggest challenges facing the development of tourism in the north of Maldives is the lack of direct flights to the region carrying tourists from all over the world and the high cost of transportation required to visit the region.
The government believes that the completion of the Hanimaadhoo International Airport development project will greatly facilitate the expansion of tourism by increasing the number of resorts, city hotels, and guesthouses. The project is expected to increase business and employment opportunities in the northern provinces. The development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport will also play an important role in implementing the government's plans to establish a modern maritime hub in the north of the country that will provide services to large cargo ships travelling along the main shipping routes of the world.