Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has said the land reclamation project for the development of the airport in Hoarafushi in Haa Alifu Atoll has concluded.
MTCC said the project was concluded last week, adding it utilised its state-of-the-art hopper dredger in the project. As part of the project, MTCC reclaimed a total of 34 hectares of land at a cost of USD 4.3 million.
MTCC was contracted to reclaim land for the airport development on March 25. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih launched the project on April 1, as part of a visit to the atoll.
The previous administration had planned to develop an airport in Maafinolhu, an uninhabited island lying in the same lagoon as Hoarafushi. However, the current administration has decided to develop the airport in Hoarafushi, in an effort to reduce the destruction of delicate green islands. The administration initially announced the development of the airport would be completed within 16 months.
Hoarafushi currently has a population of over 3,400 people. The airport developed in Hoarafushi will be the first in the entire Haa Alifu Atoll.