Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure has announced the project to construct the Greater Male’ Connectivity Bridge will be financed under a loan from the Government of India.
Speaking at the ceremony held to hand over the surveying component of the project to a foreign company, Minister of State for National Planning and Infrastructure Akram Kamaluddin announced the project is conducted under loan assistance from the Indian government. The state minister said the project will be opened for tender in July after the survey is completed, adding the prequalification of bids will be conducted in India. He also added construction is expected to commence in September.
The state minister further stated the surveying component which was contracted today will involve investigation of 28 boreholes extracted from land and sea. He revealed the surveying component will cost USD 15 million, adding the survey contractor is one of the three most experienced companies in the world in this field.
The Greater Male’ Connectivity Bridge, which will connect Male’, Villimale’, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu, is expected to be 6.7 kilometres long, with at least four lanes. The planning ministry says the total cost of the bridge has not yet been finalised.