Project delays linked to carrying forward previous govt contracts, says minister

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said infrastructure projects are progressing more slowly than the government would like because the administration is implementing projects contracted under both the current and previous governments.

The minister made the remarks during Monday's sitting of the People's Majlis while responding to a question from Maavashu MP Ahmed Shakir of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on the status of the L. Hithadhoo causeway project. The question was submitted to the minister in September last year.

Shakir sought clarification on when construction would be completed and the causeway opened for public use.

In response, Muththalib said the project is progressing according to schedule and is expected to be completed by the middle of 2028.

The minister said the current administration had entered office with its own programme of infrastructure projects but had also decided to continue projects contracted under the previous administration.

"I have previously stated in Parliament that when we took over the government, there were projects worth around MVR 40 billion that had already been signed by the previous administration. This government also came to office with its own manifesto and development commitments," Muththalib said.

He said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had directed that projects initiated by the previous administration should continue alongside projects pledged by the current government.

According to the minister, implementing both sets of projects requires financial and logistical planning, which has affected the pace of implementation.

"Our objective is to complete the projects initiated under the previous administration while also delivering this administration's development programme," he said.