The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has declined to disclose the cost of opening the new terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA) on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day.
Reports say multiple activities are planned for the opening ceremony of the new terminal, including a world record-breaking drone show and a fireworks show.
However, neither MACL nor the government gave details of the activities planned for the day. MACL officials have been unable to share the information despite several requests from Adhadhu.
According to sources, the opening ceremony of the new terminal will cost between MVR 90 million and MVR 100 million.
Members of the public and the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have criticised the government for planning to spend millions to open part of the terminal without using that money to complete the remaining works of the terminal.
Adhadhu understands that the entire terminal is expected to be operational for the tourism high season or later this year.
With the new terminal, the airport's annual passenger capacity will rise to 7.5 million.
The terminal, which took nearly nine years to complete, was part of the airport expansion project that began under former President Abdullah Yameen’s government. The entire project cost USD 812 million, making it the most expensive project ever undertaken in the Maldives.
