CEO of Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) Hassan Shah has stated its hopper dredger does not have the capacity to dredge 6 million cubic metres of land in 180 days.
Speaking to PSM News to address public concern following the decision to award the project to Boskalis Westminster Contracting Limited for USD 53 million without tender, Shah said MTCC would require 18 months to finish the project given that it can dredge only 12-13,000 cubic metres a day.
Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure said the contract was awarded to the Dutch firm as it has the capacity to complete the Gulhifalhu reclamation project before March. The administration intends begin the project to shift Male' Commercial Port to Gulhifalhu next March.
The ministry also said the state-owned MTCC is unlikely to complete a mega project of this scale in time as the company has recently been awarded the reclamation projects in Guraidhoo and Maafushi.
MTCC CEO Shah confirmed the hopper dredger has been mobilised in Kaafu Atoll to reclaim land of the two islands.