Regional Airports Company Limited (RACL) has said the development of Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) is well underway with asphalt being laid on the new runway.
Speaking to PSM News, Managing Director of RACL Mohamed Rizvi has confirmed that the ABC layer is being laid in preparation for the laying of asphalt and said that the runway is expected to be fully laid with asphalt by the end of August. He also said that construction of the airport terminal, fire building, and other facilities is also underway. In addition, he confirmed that the work is progressing as planned and on schedule despite the scale of the project.
The airport development project 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. The project was awarded to India-based JMC Projects Limited in September 2022 at a cost of USD136 million.
The project includes the development of 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 project will be completed in 2024 and international flights will start operating directly to the north of the Maldives.