Addu airport upgrade delayed as building issue halts road work
As the road construction had reached the site, the building had effectively halted further development in the area.
The Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure has recently ordered the removal of a section of the Addu International Airport development project due to an ongoing issue with the vacating of a building located in Equator Village. The building, which houses accommodation for employees of the Addu International Airport Company, is situated in the area where a critical road is to be constructed as part of the $29 million (MVR 455 million) infrastructure project.
The project, which was launched by the previous government in 2023, aims to build a road that will support the broader development of the airport. However, the land required for this road has not yet been handed over to the contractor, creating significant delays in the project. As a result, the Ministry has had to take decisive steps to address the situation.
Infrastructure Minister Abdullah Mutholib explained that the Addu International Airport Company had been instructed to notify the contractor about excluding the road section near the building from the current phase of the project to avoid further financial losses. The failure to vacate the building and hand over the land has caused an obstacle to the project's progress.
In a Facebook post, Minister Mutholib clarified that the building in question is not the one that houses the Equator Village, but rather an accommodation block for employees of the Addu International Airport Company. As the road construction had reached the site, the building had effectively halted further development in the area. The land and the building both belong to the Addu International Airport Company, but the company has faced difficulty vacating the site due to the current occupant's refusal to leave.
Despite the setback, Mutholib emphasized that the road construction could continue if the building is vacated or if the land is handed over before the 17th of this month. In this case, the project would proceed as initially planned. However, if the land is not cleared by the specified date, the road's construction in the affected area will be removed from the current scope of the project and postponed until later.
The Addu International Airport project itself, which is priced at $29.7 million (MVR 455.9 million), is set to span two years and aims to improve the airport’s capacity and facilities. This includes the construction of an international terminal capable of handling 1.5 million passengers per year, a new control tower, a fire station, and cargo facilities, including cold storage. Roads and parking areas will also be developed as part of the broader modernization effort.
Despite the current complications, Minister Mutholib expressed hope that with the cooperation of all involved parties, the building will soon be vacated, and the land handed over to the contractor so the project can continue without further delay. Many have expressed concern, particularly in online comments, about the challenges in vacating the Addu International Airport Company's property. However, the Ministry remains focused on resolving the issue promptly to ensure the success of the airport’s development.
