Foundation laying ceremony for Thilamale’ Bridge to be held in India

The foundation laying ceremony for the bridge linking Male’ City, Vilimale’, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu is set to be held at India, during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s upcoming official visit to the country.

The official ceremony is to be held at the capital of India, New Delhi.

Mabrooz Azeez, the Spokesperson of President’s Office, told Sun on Sunday that the foundation laying ceremony will be held concurrently in both India and Maldives. He detailed that the ceremony will be held on next Tuesday.

“Will be held at both countries. India and Maldives. At the same time. Event will be livestreamed,” he had said.

The Greater Male’ Connectivity Project – set to be the largest infrastructure development project in Maldives – is financed under an Indian grant of USD 100 million and a USD 400 concessional credit line from India’s Exim Bank.  

The project was awarded to India’s Afcons Infrastructure on August 26, 2021.

The project involves construction of a 6.74-kilometer-long bridge along with a causeway link. According to the Indian High Commission in Maldives, the bridges between islands will measure 140 meters. 

Signalized junctions will be built at the land interchanges in Male’ and Vilimale’, and roundabouts will be built in Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

Bus terminals will also be built at the bridge junction in each island.

Afcons Infrastructure has previously stated that the bridge between Male’ City and Vilimale’ being built under the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project will be complete and open for traffic in July 2023.

However, the project in its entirety will be completed in 2024.