Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has contracted Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to develop the airport coastal protection project in Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll.
The contract was signed by the CEO of MTCC Adam Azim and Director-General Fathimath Shaana Farooq from the planning ministry. Parliamentarian Ahmed Saleem also attended the contract signing ceremony.
The project includes the construction of a 2,861-metre quay wall on both sides of the runway and the construction of a concrete culvert on the causeway which connects Hoarafushi to the airport. MTCC is tasked with completing the project within 360 days at a cost of USD 5.9 million.
MTCC has been tasked with developing coastal protection on the western area of Hoarafushi following damages caused by swell waves during the rainy weather last May. The swell waves had caused damages to the airport terminal's waiting area, while the runway had been covered with sand.
Furthermore, the highway connecting Hoarafushi and the airport has also been damaged after the waves had eroded a part of the reclaimed area, causing some of the highway lights to fall. MTCC had reclaimed 16 hectares of land to develop the airport, which consists of a 1,200 metre runway, an 8,635 square-metre apron, and taxiway, service roads, a 9,473 square-metre parking area, as well as a passenger terminal and a building for firefighters.