China's T.Y.Lin International has been awarded the survey for a bridge to connect Addu Hithadhoo and Hulhudhoo-Meedhoo

Construction Minister Abdulla Muththalib and Chen Xiaohu, on behalf of T.Y. Lin, signed the project agreement.

The Construction Ministry said the bridge consultancy agreement included survey, design development and technical work.

However, the ministry did not disclose the price or the duration of the contract.

In February last year, the survey for the same project was awarded to an Egyptian company during President Mohamed Muizzu's visit to Addu city.

At the time, Muizzu said the practical work will begin in 2024 and the bridge would be completed within three and a half years.

“The agreement signed today will then change into a contract. When it’s changed to a contract, practical work on this bridge will begin this year. My estimate is that the work will be completed in about three and a half years, four years, God willing, during this term,” the President said.

The survey work was assigned to The Arab Contractors from Egypt. They began survey work on March 6. But there were no project updates after that.

In his presidential address on February 6, Muizzu said an announcement would be made within the month to seek a contractor for the detailed survey, engineering design and technical work of the project.

The government gazetted on March 2, seeking a firm to provide consultancy for the works related to survey, design and tender documents and technical specification. The announcement was cancelled and reposted by the finance ministry on March 18.

Some MVR 30 million was allocated in last year’s budget for the survey needed for building the bridge between Hithadhoo and Hulhu-Meedhoo. Beginning the work during the first 100 days in office was included in the government’s “Hafthaa 14” (14 Weeks) roadmap.