President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said the people of Shaviyani Milandhoo have only one request and that he would fulfill that request by building an airport on the island.
The President is currently on a tour of four northern islands. He arrived in Milandhoo on Tuesday afternoon and met with the people. Speaking later, Muizzu said the only request by the people was to build an airport.
"I make promises to fulfill them. So I give 100 percent assurance that the airport will be built for the future and development of the people of this island," he said.
The President said he would make that promise a reality and said that other development initiatives will take place on the island.
During the tour of the northern islands, the President earlier pledged to build an airport in Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo.
Speaking in Dhidhdhoo, Muizzu said it was necessary to build more airports despite heavy criticism of the policy.
“Because of the country’s geographic distribution…the public now doesn’t necessarily want the country to be the way it was in the past. Building airports is absolutely necessary. Domestic airports in some places and international airports in other places have to be built. I make pledges believing that it needs to be done,” he said.
The President’s defense of the airport policy came after previously unannounced airport projects that were revealed during the President’s recent visit to Huvadhoo atoll drew criticism from urban planning and financial experts.
A project to develop an airport after reclaiming the lagoon of Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo was awarded despite the presence of the nearby airport of Kaadedhdhoo south of the island. Thinadhoo is five minutes away from Kaadedhdhoo by speed launch.
Amid questions raised over the capability of the chosen investor for the Thinadhoo airport, the development of an airport in the Villingili lagoon was also contracted. The island of Kooddoo south of Villingili also has an airport. The trip between the islands is also five minutes by speed launch.
Moreover, President Muizzu also pledged to develop an airport in Gaaf Alif Kolamaafushi. The combined number of airports pledged by the President, planned or under development, and currently in operation in the Maldives is nearly 40. This is many times more than the world's largest countries in terms of land area and population.
