Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, has stated that the harbor development project in Fohdhoo, Noonu Atoll, has been delayed to incorporate design changes requested by the island's residents. The minister made these remarks in response to a question raised by Parliamentarian for Velidhoo Constituency Mohamed Abbas regarding the delay.
Dr. Muththalib explained that the project was awarded to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) on September 3, 2023. He noted that the project had been included in the 2023 budget with limited funding, a result of numerous projects being added during the election year. The 2023 budget allocated USD 135,000 for the project, while USD 17,219 was set aside in the 2024 budget. The total project cost, as outlined in the contract, amounts to USD 3.8 million.
Initially, the harbor was designed as a detached harbor, a design uncommon for island ports. The minister emphasised that changes to the original design were necessary, leading to delays in the project's implementation.
Dr. Muththalib also mentioned that while the project had been included in the budget for the past two years, no advance payments had been made to the contractor, MTCC.
The Fohdhoo harbor project, which involves the construction of a port measuring 467 meters in length and 300 meters in width, remains a priority for the government.