The Road Development Corporation (RDC) has started sending the first batch of vehicles needed for its Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) road‑building projects in several islands of Alifu Alifu Atoll.
According to the state-owned corporation, the equipment is slated to be dispatched later on 8 August.
The government has tasked RDC with upgrading and constructing roads on numerous inhabited islands. RDC Managing Director Ibrahim Nazeem told PSM News that the biggest hurdle so far has been a shortage of adequate machinery within the company. To overcome this, the state secured funding and partnered with a Chinese firm to procure the necessary equipment, which is now being rolled out to the atolls.
In this initial batch, RDC is sending excavators, forklifts, lorries and other heavy‑duty vehicles to the islands of Thoddoo, Himandhoo, Maalhos and Rasdhoo. The shipments are scheduled to arrive later in the day, enabling the corporation to launch road‑construction work on those islands without further delay. Nazeem emphasised that the timely arrival of the machinery will allow the projects on these islands to commence swiftly.
RDC plans to continue distributing vehicles across the Maldives. Nazeem announced that additional shipments are set to reach 55 islands over the next two weeks, supporting a broader push to improve island infrastructure under the PSIP framework. The corporation has already dispatched equipment for earlier PSIP initiatives in Madifushi, Guraidhoo in Thaa Atoll, Meedhoo in Dhaalu Atoll and Addu City.
To date, RDC has imported more than 200 vehicles and a host of construction equipment into the country, all sourced through the collaboration with the Chinese partner. Alongside the hardware, the partnership has facilitated specialised technical training for RDC staff, ensuring operators are prepared to use the new machinery safely and efficiently.