Thilamale’ Bridge construction is accelerating as a result of the close relationship between the governments of the Maldives and India, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Pulse podcast aimed at addressing issues of public interest and strengthening engagement with citizens on key social issues, the President said when the current government took office, no practical work had been done under the project for the component between Male’ and Villimale’. Noting that no bridge pillars had been constructed at that point, he said the project was effectively restarted from scratch by the current administration.
Speaking on the project’s progress, the President said work connecting Male’ and Villimale’ is now nearly complete, with little remaining work. He said construction is also progressing on the segments between Villimale’, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu. He added that both governments are working together closely to ensure the swift progress of the project.
The government considers the bridge strategically important for Greater Male’ area and the Maldives’ economy as a whole. The President said that upon taking office, his administration’s first works had been efforts to expedite the project by working closely with the Indian government and contractors.
Under the previous government, the project was supposed to be completed during its term, but only around 30 percent was completed. The current government aims to complete the bridge by the end of next year, with 75 percent of the project already completed. The main current activity is casting and installing bridge-deck segments. Of the 1,222 bridge-deck segments, 90.4 percent have been cast, while 72.9 percent have been installed to connect the bridge pillars.