President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced on Thursday that the contract to develop an airport in Fainu, Raa Atoll will be signed next month followed quickly by its commencement.
Addressing the residents of Fainu, as part of his ongoing tour of several islands of Raa Atoll, President Muizzu said the hopes and aspirations of the people in the island were linked to their dreams of an airport.
The President said as pledged during his presidential campaign, the contract to develop the airport will be signed with Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) next month which will be quickly followed by its mobilisation.
“Some changes had to be made as the area where the water and sewerage works have been done is encroaching the airport site. During the previous government, the water and sewerage systems were built to impede the airport project. However, I assure you that the water and sewerage works will be carried out smoothly without interruption to make the space required for the construction of the airport at the lowest cost as requested by the people,” President Muizzu said.
The President said the Fainu airport project is linked to the hopes of its people will boost much needed economic activity in the region, with more job opportunities and attract more tourist resorts to the area.
According to President Muizzu, the Fainu airport project remains a sound investment as it will become the cornerstone of his pledge to attract more tourist resorts to Raa Atoll.
In addition, the President also pledged further development to the island’s health facilities, sports infrastructure and harbour expansion.
“The harbour expansion will be important with the development of the airport. The harbour already has space limitation and will prove more difficult later. We have plans to address that too. The government is committed to prioritise such needs of the people,” he explained.
The President said his next visit to Fainu will be to inaugurate its new airport.
President Inaugurates New Water and Sewerage Network
During his visit to Fainu on Thursday, President Muizzu also inaugurated the island’s new water and sewerage network.
The government contracted Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) to establish the network in Fainu.
Under the USD4 million project, a 4.86 km sewerage network has been established to connect 130 households in Fainu. It also includes the installation of a pump station and a sea outfall along with a special rainwater drainage system.
The project will provide clean water to the households in Fainu with two reverse osmosis (RO) plants, which will generate 20 tonnes of clean water per day. The project has also established one container capable of preserving 490cbm of water and two containers that can preserve 175cbm of water each. MWSC has also provided water and sewerage connections to the 130 households in Fainu.
The President’s visit to Fainu also saw the island’s council sign a deal with Bank of Maldives Plc. (BML) to install an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on the island.
BML’s Director of Retail and SME Banking, Badhruddeen Hassan signed the agreement on behalf of the bank, while the President of the Fainu Island Council Moosa Umar Manik signed on behalf of the island.
Fainu becomes the seventh island in Raa Atoll to sign deals with BML to establish ATM service.
In November last year, BML announced an ambitious initiative to install ATMs in all inhabited islands by the end of 2025. This initiative aligns with the President's pledge to provide ATM services in all inhabited islands of the Maldives, ensuring that all Maldivians have access to banking services.