President launches work on mega road development project in Addu

 President Ibrahim Mohamed has officially launched work on a road development project in Addu City – the biggest such project to be conducted in the southern Maldivian city. 

The work was launched in a ceremony held in Addu on Sunday. 

Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and his Indian counterpart Dr. S. Jaishankar accompanied the President to the ceremony. 

The project, worth MVR 1.2 billion, also includes establishment of a storm water drainage system. 

The project was contracted to India’s Afcons Infrastructure Limited in February 2021. 

The company will construct a total of 107 kilometers of roads across Addu City, including in the districts Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo. 40 kilometers of roads will be built with tar and bricks and 67 kilometers of roads will be built by using a cement stabilized base layer. 

The new roads have been designed to resolve the issue of flooding, with storm water drainage systems being installed in Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo, and Meedhoo.  

The project will see the installation of 103 kilometers of storm water drainage systems. 

The project also involves building a four-lane detour link road stretching 1.43 kilometers which will link the Hithadhoo Gaukede with Maradhoo. 

The President and First Lady are currently in Addu City as part of a four-day trip to Maldives' southern cities.