Egyptian company interested in constructing Addu bridge

A major Egyptian company has expressed interest in carrying out the project to connect Addu's Hithadhoo-Hulhumeedhoo bridge and has submitted a proposal to the government to provide the necessary survey free of charge.

Public Policy Secretary at the President's Office Abdulla Nazim said that Egypt's 'The Arab Contractors' company had expressed interest in carrying out the construction of the Addu Bridge.

"Since there are indications that the company will do the necessary surveys for free, if they are willing to do so, the Economic Council has decided to take up the work in consultation with them," Nazim said.

While the company has proposed a free survey, MVR 30 million was allocated in this year's budget for the survey of the Hithadhoo-Hulhumeedhoo bridge.

The Addu Bridge was one of the projects proposed by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to Chinese investors during his recent visit to China. Construction Minister Abdulla Muththalib also said then that a Chinese company had shown interest in the project.

Connecting Hithadhoo with Hulhumeedhoo via a bridge was a promise made by former President Abdulla Yameen in the run-up to the 2018 presidential elections. In August, during a visit to Addu for this year's presidential campaign, President Dr Muizzu announced that Yameen's promise would be fulfilled.

The bridge was the President’s biggest pledge to any area other than Malé.

The bridge in Addu will be the largest in the Maldives. A 13-15 kilometer long bridge has to be built to connect Hithadhoo and Hulhumeedhoo.

The first bridge built in the Maldives, the Sinamalé Bridge connecting Malé and Hulhumalé, is 1.4 kilometers long.

The Thilamalé Bridge, presently in the construction phase, will link Malé, Villimalé, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi, extending over a span of 6.7 kilometers.