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Difficult to say when Police Academy will open: Home Minister

Lamya Abdulla
27 April 2021, MVT 10:10
Home Minister Imran Abdulla visits the site of National College of Police and Law Enforcement to check in on the progress of the project. PHOTO: HOME MINISTRY
Lamya Abdulla
27 April 2021, MVT 10:10

Home Minister Imran Abdulla stated on Sunday that it was difficult to specify when the Police Academy being built in Addu will be opened.

even though the work is progressing at a fast rate.

Being built near the port area of Hithadhoo, Addu, the "National College of Police and Law Enforcement" is one of the biggest India funded projects currently ongoing in Maldives.

The USD 18 million project was awarded to Sri Avanthka Contractors Limited, and commenced in 2017.

Work on this project got halted last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed visited the site in December, he had stated that the college can be opened by March 2021.

After touring the site with high ranking officials from the police, Home Minister informed the media that the work was progressing at a good rate. Even so, he noted that it was difficult to determine a particular timeframe as to when they can open.

"We hope we can open it within the next few months. Work is progressing fast in order to make this happen," he said.

He stated that they were working towards opening at the very earliest. Hence, they were aiming to complete the most necessary parts of the college and open rather than waiting for the entire project to be completed.

The minister revealed that 375 employees work on the project right now. However, if they were to hasten the pace they would need at least 100 more.

Speaking on some of the obstacles faced, he highlighted being unable to bring the required man power from India, further escalated due to travel restrictions and mandatory quarantine amid the pandemic. He revealed that discussions were underway with India to sub-contract some of the work to Maldivian companies.

The National College of Police and Law Enforcement is being built with accommodation blocks training centers, and a gym that can fit around 800 people, in addition to a clinic, a helipad, basketball and football court. Multiple classrooms are built in this college that can accommodate 320 students at a time.

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