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Wednesday 13 Aug 2025
LOCAL EDITION
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LOCAL EDITION
Physical work commences on land reclamation for the development of a domestic airport in B. Thulhaadhoo on August 12, 2025. (Photo/President's Office)
Physical works on the reclamation of land required to develop a domestic airport in B. Thulhaadhoo has commenced on Tuesday, just a mere day after the contract was signed.
The agreement pertaining to land reclamation, coastal protection, and critical infrastructure development for a domestic airport in Thuladhoo was signed during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure on Monday.
The agreement was signed after the cancellation of the 2023 agreement signed with Sri Lanka’s Civil Construction (CMCC) to reclaim land for the development of a domestic airport in Thulhaadhoo.
The project was contracted under a new agreement to state-owned Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
Physical works on the land reclamation was officially inaugurated by Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthalib during a ceremony held at Thulhaadhoo on Tuesday as part of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s ongoing tour of Baa Atoll.
With the inauguration, MTTC’s ‘Maahaa Jarrafu’, a hopper suction dredger, had commenced the work.
This project was initially awarded CMCC on July 12, 2023, under the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with work commencing on August 29, 2023.
However, the project was stalled after the current administration assumed office.
In an earlier visit to Thulhaadhoo, President Muizzu said Thulhaadhoo airport development would be re-evaluated to align with community needs and elevated to modern standards.
MTCC’s contract valued at MVR 570,260,350.80 includes dredging and beach protection components essential for the airport's development to be completed within 660 days.
The airport will feature a runway measuring 1,800 meters in length and 30 meters in width.
The scope of work under the project includes the reclamation of 55.4 hectares of land and the construction of 2,804 meters of rock revetment along with 1,677 meters of geo bag revetment.
CMCC’s contract was valued at USD 42.4 million (MVR 653 million).
