Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has stated 17 more hectares of land need to be reclaimed for the development of the airport in Muli, Meemu Atoll.
Speaking to PSM News, the CEO of MTCC Adam Azim said the project has been stalled in order to make changes to the design concept to meet the expectations of local residents. Azim said the changes to the design concept require the reclamation of 17 more hectares of land and more work to be done to complete the development of the airport. He detailed that reclaiming more land means more time devoted to the planning stage and conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). He also said the concept has been finalised and expects the fieldwork to begin after the EIA is completed.
The project to develop the Muli Airport was contracted to MTCC on February 28 and was officially inaugurated by CEO Adam Azim and Parliamentarian Ikram Hassan at a special ceremony held in Muli on April 6.
Muli Airport is being developed for domestic flight operations and the project initially called for 14 hectares of land to be reclaimed in Muli for the airport. The project involves the construction of a 1200-metre runway, taxiway, apron, and terminal.
Muli Airport is being developed under the government's policy to establish airports within 30 minutes of every inhabited island in the Maldives. Meemu Atoll has a population of 7,700 across 8 inhabited islands and is the only atoll that does not have access to an airport within 30 minutes of travel.