Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has begun vacating the Male' Industrial Village as part of the Greater Male' Connectivity Project (GMCP).
The planning ministry has issued an order to vacate the vehicles parked in the industrial village in order to begin construction of the bridge to connect Male', Villimale', Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. The ministry stated the industrial village will be used as a worksite during the construction of the bridge and that it has begun efforts to vacate the areas leased for temporary parking. The ministry has ordered to vacate the area before July 31, warning that vehicles at the area would be towed and that the government will not take responsibility for any damages incurred.
The GMCP is the single-largest infrastructure project in the Maldives and is expected to become a national economic engine, and a lifeline connecting Male', Villimale', Gulhifalhu, and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone. The bridge and causeway link is also essential for the development of the proposed Gulhifalhu Port.
The GMCP is funded by a grant of USD 100 million and a USD 400 million Line of Credit Agreement signed between the Government of the Maldives and the Exim Bank of India. The government has stated the project is expected to be completed within two years.