Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has revealed the construction of land pillars for the Thilamale' Bridge has been completed.
The planning ministry held the fifth meeting of the Joint Project Monitoring Committee to review the work of the Thilamale' Bridge. During the meeting, the latest updates and the timeline of the project were shared. The committee and the project team members visited the bridge site and observed the progress of the project. The team inspected the land pillars and the first test marine pile.
Speaking to PSM news, Project Manager Mohamed Jinan said the concrete pillars on the Male' side has been completed. He said it was the first permanent pillar of the project, after the test piling. He added works for the test piling for marine pillars are now ongoing, noting the steel structure required for the piling has been constructed.
Thilamale’ Bridge is being developed under the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project (GMCP), contracted to Indian-based Afcons Infrastructure Limited. The project was officially launched during the visit of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India in August last year.
The planning ministry revealed Thilamale’ Bridge will be completed by the end of next year and connected to Thilafushi in 2024. The bridge consists of three bridges, a causeway, and a road network spanning over 6.7km. The project will also see the development of interchange points and parking zones at each connection stop.
The GMCP is the single-largest infrastructure project in the Maldives and is expected to become a national economic engine, and a lifeline connecting Male' to Villimale', Gulhifalhu, and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone. The project is funded through a USD400 million Line of Credit from the Indian Exim Bank and by a USD100 million grant from the government of India.