Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) has begun the project to develop the harbour in Kinolhas, Raa Atoll, after completing urgent maintenance work. A team from MTCC arrived in Kinolhas in October 2021 after the harbour was made unusable after the channel was obstructed by sand.
The maintenance work at the harbour was opened for bidding in March 2021, but MTCC received the project on a direct-award basis after other interested companies failed to meet the requirements. The residents in Kinolhas said they had issues with sand obstructing the channel since the development of the harbour in 2008. The issue has caused problems in transporting agricultural products from Kinolhas and transporting goods to the island.
MTCC is currently demolishing parts of the harbour to expand it by 110m, raising the revetment and opening an additional channel to the harbour.
The project is expected to solve the longstanding problem of sand obstructing the harbour, which alleviates travel and transport issues for the 600 residents living on the island.