The Road Development Corporation (RDC) has confirmed that surveying operations are underway for the modernisation of the Addu City link road, a critical infrastructure project intended to bring the thoroughfare up to contemporary standards. The corporation was formally entrusted with the initiative in April 2025, marking a significant step toward addressing the region’s deteriorating transport network.
Opened to traffic in 2003, the link road has suffered extensive degradation over the past two decades. Intermittent repair efforts have failed to arrest the decline, leaving the condition of the road poor and unreliable. For the large population that depends on the artery around the clock, the deterioration has become a daily burden. Hazardous incidents, some resulting in fatalities, have underscored the urgency of intervention and heightened public concern across Addu City.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has pledged that a resolution will be delivered to the community. Following the handover of the project to the RDC, work has officially commenced. The corporation has noted that the immediate priority is surveying, a step required before construction can begin. At the same time, attention is being directed toward the internal road network within Addu City. The RDC has stated that surveys will conclude in February, after which physical development of the link road is scheduled to start.
Senior officials at the RDC highlighted the magnitude of the undertaking. “The Addu link road has gone 20 years without any maintenance work,” the RDC stated. “This 800-million-Rufiyaa [USD 53.78 million] project, initiated under the directive of the president, represents a major progression for the citizens of Addu.”
Residents described the rehabilitation as a long-awaited necessity, citing frequent vehicle damage and a high incidence of traffic accidents. “The Addu link road is heavily damaged, leading to the destruction of many vehicles,” residents said. “Accidents are frequent. It has been 20 years since this area has seen repair. This is a genuine necessity; a quick solution is what is truly required.”
Under the plan, a 12.3-kilometre stretch of the link road will be upgraded to modern standards. The RDC has also confirmed that asphalt paving will proceed on 67.58 kilometres of road previously laid with a Cement Treated Base (CTB). The project, valued at USD 53.78 million, is scheduled for completion within three years and 11 months. Its scope includes reconstruction of the link road, application of asphalt or pavers to CTB roads, construction of sidewalks, and installation of drainage systems, road markings, and signage.