Land reclaimed in Giraavaru to award plots to Male' natives will not be connected to Male' via the Thilamale' bridge project, the planning ministry has said.
State Minister Akram Kamaludeen told Adhadhu today that the project to connect Giraavaru and Male' will be carried out separately. Despite planning to connect the bridge to Giraavaru, major changes will not be made to the plan for the Thilamale' bridge project.
While land reclamation is underway in Giraavaru to award land plots to Male' natives, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that 20 hectares of land have now been reclaimed. The 'Binveriyaa' housing scheme will be fully complete when the area is connected via the bridge from Male' and Thilafushi, he said.
The bridge will be built and ready for use next year, he said. According to the president, work on connecting the Thilamale' bridge to Giraavaru will begin after the Thilamale' bridge project is completed.
Thilamale' bridge project
The MVR 7.7 billion bridge project is undertaken by India's Afcons company.
Once the project is complete, the Greater Male' region islands of Thilafushi, Gulhi Falhu and Vilimale' will be connected to Male', allowing travel by land from Thilafushi to Hulhumale'.
The bridge, causeway and roads that connect these islands will be 6.7km. Parts of the link include three bridges, two roads, interchange points for entering and leaving each island, and parking zones.
The Male'-Thilafushi bridge is an important component of the current administration's economic vision and policy. However, construction of the bridge would not be fully complete when the presidential term ends.
The massive project is financed through a USD 400 million credit facility arranged by India's Exim Bank and a USD 100 million grant from India.
