President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has walked from Malé to Vilimalé during an inspection of the Thilamale’ Bridge, marking the first journey on foot between the two islands.
Government ministers and several senior officials accompanied President Dr Muizzu as he inspected progress on the bridge.
The visit follows a major milestone last week, when the final segment connecting Malé and Vilimalé was joined. The Thilamale’ Bridge project is the largest infrastructure development underway in the Malé region. Construction began in 2022, with India’s Afcons Infrastructure Limited carrying out the work.
Accelerating the bridge project was among President Dr Muizzu’s first priorities after assuming office. His Administration worked with the Indian Government and the contractor to speed up construction.
The previous government awarded the project with the aim of completing it during its term. However, only around 30 per cent of the work had been completed by the time its term ended.
Although work on the bridge faced delays for various reasons, the current Government aims to complete the project by the end of next year. Overall progress now stands at 76 per cent.
The project will connect Malé, Vilimalé, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi through highways, with construction of the highways progressing alongside the project. The entire connectivity network, including bridges and causeways, will span 6.7 kilometres.
The Government said it is giving particular priority to ensuring the quality of work on the Thilamale’ Bridge.
The Thilamale’ Bridge project has a total cost of USD 500 million. The project is funded through a USD 100 million grant from the Indian Government and a USD 400 million line of credit, alongside funding from the Maldivian Government.