President: Have requested PM Modi to expedite Thilamale’ Bridge

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Friday, has revealed that he has requested Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the construction of Thilamale’ Bridge, a project contracted to an Indian company by the former administration.

The project had come under scrutiny over its slow progress. The current administration, after assuming office, revealed that the former administration, in the course of its last days, had extended the deadline to finish the project.

Speaking at the special program of "Baajjaveri Hendhuneh" this morning to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Dhivehi Raajjeyge Adu, the national radio station of the Maldives on Friday morning – President Muizzu said Thilamale’ Bridge is expected to be completed at the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.

He also revealed that he had requested to expedite the project during his meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, earlier this month. He added that the Maldivian government alone cannot resolve the issues pertaining to the project, due to their nature.

“At the meeting with the prime minister, I had officially conveyed that we want to expedite the bridge project. That it was the most favorable outcome for both nations,” he said.

“I do not believe it consumes that much time. It is a lot if the segment to Vilingili is finished by the end of 2024 or early 2025,” he stressed.

President Muizzu, who headed the ministry overseeing the construction of Sinamale’ Bridge, said the goal was to proceed with Thilamale’ Bridge project at the fast pace Sinamale’ Bridge project had been carried out.

However, he said work on the project had progressed too slowly during the former administration, with over one and half years spent installing just the pillars.

“Now, it is set to progress faster. But it can be done even faster than that,” he added.

President Muizzu said it is most likely for the bridge to be completed in 2026, despite his wishes for its completion in early 2025.

The initial agreement dictated a deadline of end of next year to complete the project. The supplementary agreement executed by the previous administration during its last days has extended the deadline to September 30, 2026.

An oral agreement was also made by the former administration – extending the deadline for Male-Villimale section of the bridge to March 2025. 

Only 29 percent of Thimale’ Bridge has been completed so far. The project was contracted to India’s Afcons Infrastructure in August 2021. 

The former administration has previously admitted that the project wasn’t progressing at the speed they wanted.