Minister admits delays in India-funded bridge, but insists deadline will be met

Planning mnister Mohamed Aslam admitted on Tuesday that the progress of the Greater Male Connectivity Bridge (Thilamale Bridge) project linking Male to Villimale, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi is slow, but stressed that the work will be completed on the given date.

Bridge timeline:

Former MDP MP from Maafannu Central constituency, Ibrahim Rasheed, asked about the completion date of the bridge project.

Replying to the question, Aslam said that there are delays as far as work schedule is concerned. He, however, said there was no plan to extend the deadline.

"So far, the [work] has not reached the level it should have come to by now. To some extent they can still catch up the lag, but they can't catch up entirely. We are not planning to give an extension yet," he said.

Aslam said the Thilamale Bridge was not being constructed with a temporary platform like the Sinamale Bridge that was built during the previous government. Except for the first two pillars, all the other pillars that have already been installed are the original pillars of the bridge, he said. 

The contractor, India's Afcons, is installing the pillars of the bridge using floating platforms. The construction of the Sinamale Bridge was carried out by constructing a temporary pier between Male and Hulhumale. Even if the sea was rough, there was no difficulty to move supplies from one place to another.

Thilamale Bridge project: