President hints Thulhaadhoo airport will be operational before 2023’s end

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih hinted Monday that the airport his administration has pledged to develop in B. Thulhaadhoo will be made operational before the end of the year.

President Solih – who is running for MDP’s presidential ticket to secure a second term in office – made the comment during a campaign event in B. Eydhafushi on Monday.

Speaking at the event, President Solih noted that building an airport within 40-minute distance of residential islands had been one of his administration’s electoral pledges back in 2018.

He said that his administration would deliver the pledge, and projects were currently in progress in multiple islands to develop airports.

Highlighting on the airport development project in Thulhaadhoo, President Solih provided assurance the project would be awarded to a contractor within the next two weeks.

“Our goal is to reclaim land and begin construction work mid-year. In Sha Allah, the airport will be operational before the end of this year,” he said.

President Solih said that construction of the Hoarafushi airport is complete, while construction of airports in Mulee, Faresmaathodaa, and Magoodhoo remain in progress.

Four more airports will be built, he said.

President Solih also said that the construction of the hospital his administration pledged to build in Thulhaadhoo would also begin soon.

Construction will begin within the coming one month, even if it needs to be contracted to a government company, he said.