Roads of Addu, which were newly laid with tar and paving bricks, are being dug up again due to pipes laid under the roads becoming constricted.
Roads of Addu, which were newly laid with tar and paving bricks, are being dug up again due to pipes laid under the roads becoming constricted.
Addu, which has the second largest population in Maldives, had the development of its roads contracted to India's AFCONS in early 2022. Under the project, the company is contracted to build roads of total 40 kilometres across the islands with tar and paving bricks.
The MVR 1 billion project was nearing completion when issues began arising, resulting in the roads having to be dug up again. Mihaaru News reports that this is due to pipes laid under the roads for various reasons becoming constricted, which was learned through some tests conducted by the company.
Hence, roads in Hithadhoo are now being dug up to replace the pipes.
A resident from Hithadhoo told Mihaaru News that currently the roads are being cut and dug up for this work.
When questioned about the matter, Addu Mayor Ali Nizar responded that every now and then, even Fenaka has to dig up the roads because of issues in the water and sewerage system.
"There's always roads being dug up due to some issue or other," he said.
Addu has also been facing constant issues with electricity, with much of the atoll facing frequent power cuts. In an earlier video shared by the Addu City Council, Mayor Nizar has claimed that the power cuts were caused due to some issues with a high voltage cable laid to provide electricity to Gan. He said that the precise location of the cable is unclear, resulting in power cuts across the islands of Addu.
AFCONS, meanwhile, is also contracted to build a 103 kilometer smart water drainage system along with the development of the roads, in a bid to provide a solution to flooding in Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.
However, even at the start, the company's work raised public concerns. There were even reports of walls of a number of houses collapsing when the roads were initially dug up.
This is the largest road development project undertaken in Addu.
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