The Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure has announced that training Maldivians for the maintenance of the Sinamale' Bridge will commence in August.
The maintenance of the Sinamale' Bridge is being handled by the Second Harbor Engineering Company, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). The government awarded this company the contract on March 20 for a three-year term. Maintenance activities began on March 30, resuming after a nearly three-year hiatus.
The construction ministry said that a specialised team from China will arrive in the Maldives in August to undertake the technical aspects of the bridge maintenance and to train Maldivians in these tasks. Currently, the bridge maintenance work includes cleaning and painting or applying protective coatings to various parts of the bridge. The cleaning of the composite and steel guardrails, as well as the removal of rust and application of protective coatings, will also take place later this year.
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib previously highlighted the importance of prioritising the training of locals in bridge maintenance. He also noted the necessity of having skilled professionals for maintenance as more bridges are being constructed in the Maldives.
The maintenance work on the Sinamale' Bridge, also known as the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, costs approximately USD3.6 million and is funded by a free grant from the Chinese government. The Sinamale' Bridge project, funded by China’s free grants and the Maldivian government budget, was completed and became operational in August 2018. The 1.39 km bridge had a total construction cost of USD300 million.