The road on the Hithadhoo Causeway in Laamu Atoll is expected to be completed and opened for public use by the middle of 2028, according to Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib.
Speaking in Parliament today, Maavah Parliamentarian Ahmed Shakir asked when physical construction on the Hithadhoo Causeway project had begun and when it was expected to be completed. In response, the minister outlined the project's timeline in detail.
The minister explained that although the project contract was signed and awarded on 22 January 2023, the actual construction work only commenced under the current administration. While reports indicated that mobilisation took place on 2 September 2023, he said that the survey, borehole investigations and other related works initiated at the time had not progressed satisfactorily.
He added that the geotechnical investigations and the design revisions required for the project were completed under the current government. Physical construction began on 20 October 2025, and the project was launched with a completion period of 500 days.
"The government is not delaying work intentionally. The previous administration had signed contracts worth around USD 2.59 billion. With the funds available to the state, we are implementing a proper schedule to carry forward both the projects inherited from the previous administration and those initiated by the current government," Minister Muththalib said.
The USD 5.24 million project includes a 390-metre revetment, two bridges each measuring 157.5 metres in length, and a 714-metre roadway. The minister also noted that casting of the L-blocks required for the bridge construction is currently under way.
The minister acknowledged that the project had encountered several challenges during implementation. He said that, towards the end of the previous administration's term, contracts for numerous projects had been signed in a short period, creating financial constraints. As a result, the government has had to establish a realistic implementation schedule to ensure all projects can be completed. He added that priority is being given to completing projects in the most effective manner possible within the state's available financial resources.