President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that the project to develop the Velana International Airport (VIA) will be completed by September next year.
Speaking at a ceremony held by the Maldives National Association of Construction Industry (MNACI) on Wednesday night, Muizzu said the economy should continue to grow.
He noted that the airport development is important for the tourism sector and other economic sectors.
"The information received in the transition phase shows that the airport will not be completed soon. The current prediction is it will be complete by July 2025. That is not acceptable to us. The economy is slowing down," he said.
Muizzu said discussions with the relevant parties are underway to expedite the project, adding that he would visit the airport to see the work.
The President-elect also shared his plan to accelerate the work.
"I will make a special committee directly in the President's Office with all the relevant stakeholders including senior officials. And I will chair the committee. The progress will be monitored daily and key decisions can be made immediately," Muizzu noted.
The new passenger terminal is part of the Velana Airport expansion project launched by former President Abdulla Yameen.
The completion of the ongoing expansion project at Velana International Airport, including the passenger terminal, will more than double the airport's capacity to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually.
The new two-storey terminal will have 78,000 square meters. This will solve the space constraints faced by the existing terminal.
There will also be aero boarding bridges, state-of-the-art baggage handling systems, FNB outlets, lounges and other services.
