Minister faults council over link road delay issue
Muththalib also criticised the Malé City Council, stating that the state carries out work when roads are flooded or damaged.
Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Abdullah Muththalib on Wednesday said that the Addu Link Road project has not started one year after it was awarded, and criticised the council.
The Addu Link Road was developed about 23 years ago. The road has since been damaged. The project was handed over to the RDC in April 2025. It is valued at MVR 830 million and is to be completed within three years and nine months. President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the project during a visit to Addu in November.
Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi raised the matter in parliament, asking the minister why work had not started and when implementation would begin.
In response, Muththalib said the link road is a priority project for the government. He stated that the delay was due to the time taken to bring in machinery.
“Now the machinery has arrived. Work will start as soon as it is brought to Addu,” he said.
Following his response, Muththalib criticised the Addu City Council over the condition of the road. He said maintaining the road is not the responsibility of the ministry.
“If the Addu City Council receives hundreds of millions of rufiyaa from the state budget and there is no mechanism to repair potholes, then the council has failed,” he said.
Muththalib also criticised the Malé City Council, stating that the state carries out work when roads are flooded or damaged.
“What is the benefit of providing hundreds of millions of rufiyaa as block grants to the council?” he asked.
He said councils should use allocated funds to maintain roads and serve residents.
Muththalib added that some government projects do not receive support from the Malé City Council. He cited the project to widen and develop the northern area of the city.
“How many letters were sent to relocate the market? The road remains incomplete. Today, we have signed a letter to mobilise finances to build a market there,” he said.
He said councils must be held accountable and should support government efforts.
“The government is here to serve the people. Councils must facilitate these efforts,” he said.
