Bridge construction lags behind at 27% completion
The government's first 100 days or 'Week 14' agenda also includes identifying the reasons for the delay in the bridge project.
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
The government on Sunday said that only 27% of the work on the Greater Male Connectivity Bridge has been completed despite having planned for 77% of the project to be completed so far.
The biggest project of the last government was the Greater Male Bridge.
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This is a project under a loan from Exim Bank of India
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The project was awarded to India's Afcons company on August 26,
Bridge work schedule:
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Completion of the Male-Villimale Bridge - July 2023 or August 2023 by latest
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Villimale-Gulhifalhu - December 2023
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Completion of the entire bridge connecting Male all the way to Thilafushi via Villimale and Gulhi - by November 2024
Key statistics of the bridge:
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Total Price: USD 500 million (MVR 6.2 billion)
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USD 100 million (MVR 1.55 billion) is India's free aid
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Experts from Turkey, Germany and Australia are also involved in the bridge work
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The length of the entire bridge: 3.6 km
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220,000 cubic meters of dredging
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3 km road and bridge connecting the bridge
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The project was lent by Exim Bank of India
According to the schedule, 77% of the bridge work should be completed by Sunday, the under-secretary for public policy in the office of the President, Mohammed Firzul told a press conference at the President's Office on Sunday.
“However, only 27% of the work has been completed so far,” he said.
Firzul said the bridge condition should be understood and why the work was delayed should be investigated. The date of completion of the project will be known then, he said.
“What is happening, what are the challenges or what caused such a big gap and delay in this work,” Firzul said.
The government's first 100 days or 'Week 14' agenda also includes identifying the reasons for the delay in the bridge project.
The project will be rescheduled after the reasons are identified and addressed, he said.
