BUCG contracted to repair old VIA runway

The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) on Tuesday has contracted China's Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) to repair the old Velana International Airport (VIA) runway.

MACL signed the contract with BUCG on Tuesday, during which Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Shareef signed on behalf of the airport operator while BUCG's General Manager Lu Wei signed on behalf of the contractor.

While BUCG has been contracted with repairing the old runway, the airport's currently operational and more recent runway was developed by the same contractor, which was launched in 2022 as a taxiway during the previous administration.

At the signing ceremony, Shareef highlighted that the airport lacks an alternative landing site in the event the current tarmac runs into fault, which he added could impact the entire country's economy and noted the importance of repairing the taxiway.

The old runway's repair works will conclude in 2027 as per the agreement.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed along with the Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Wang Lixin were were in the attendance of Tuesday's signing ceremony.