Thinadhoo-Kaadehdhoo bridge planned, with Kaadehdhoo Aiport set for international upgrade

The government has decided to build a bridge connecting Thinadhoo and Kaadehdhoo in GDh atoll, and to upgrade the Kaadehdhoo Airport to international status.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced this yesterday in a presentation he gave during the 14 hour press conference at the President's Office.

He said that a bridge connecting the two islands has been planned, with efforts now ongoing to assign a party to compile the project's technical proposal.

A bridge connecting Thinadhoo and Kaadehdhoo will have to be 3.7km long.

When questioned why an update on the Thinadhoo International Airport was not included in his presentation, the President responded that there are presently no updates to be given on the project.

"However, instead of Thinadhoo, to develop the Kaadehdhoo Airport as an international, to develop as a brand new airport, and to connect it with Thinadhoo through a bridge, that is actually the pledge I made," he said.

The government previously announced that land would be reclaimed from Thinadhoo to build an airport there. The Construction Ministry said then that although an MoU for the project was signed with a Thailand company, a contract agreement would only be signed after assessing the company's technical and financial competence.

An MoU to buid an international airport in Thinadhoo was signed with Thailand's Pan Pacific Company during President Muizzu's visit to Thinadhoo last year. The agreement of about USD 600 million dollars was signed by Construction Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib and Pan Pacific CEO Jirat Petnunthawong.

While the President has announced the upgrading of Kaadehdhoo Airport to international level, some MPs in Parliament's Economic Committee has proposed in February taking back the airport from Villa Air as the condition of the airport has deteriorated to the level that affects the country's air transport reputation.

Villa Air was granted operation of the Kaadehdhoo Airport initially in 2013, for a period of 50 years. However, this agreement was voided in 2017 during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen. However, in 2018, Civil Court ordered that the airport be given back to Villa Air, with the High Court and Supreme Court upholding the ruling. Hence, the airport was returned to Villa Air in March, 2022.

Since then, the conditions of the airport have worsened, with the matter being raised in Parliament's Economic Committee. Villa Air, taking over the airport in 2022, had decided then to upgrade it to international standard within seven years.