Addu Airports Company has revealed that Equator Village, an island hotel on the island of Gan, which houses Gan International Airport of Addu City, has refused to give up its staff quarters which is in the way of the main road being developed on the island, despite being offered an alternative plot.
The company's Managing Director Mohamed Waheed said the road will be used as a departure road for people going to the airport, with special parking spaces developed in the area as well. This makes the road an important part of the project, Waheed said.
However, discussions with the tourism ministry to acquire the land given to Equator Village has not been fruitful, he also said.
"The staff quarters they mention are not fully in the way of the road either. [Just] some of the rooms need to be removed. We told [Equator Village] that we will give a space opposite from Blue Lagoon in exchange for the rooms. But they have declined [the offer]," Waheed said.
He said the landscaping and design for the expansion of the airport was done by the Indian Airport Company, and that the final design required many buildings on the island to be relocated. However, all parties except Equator Village have cooperated and allowed their buildings to be relocated, the airport head said.
"There was a lot of cooperation from the customs, MNDF and the police. Their buildings have also been relocated. The design required them to remove their buildings," he said.
"Everyone except Equator Village cooperated and relocated."
The land where the staff quarters of Equator Village are located is owned by Gan International Airport Company. However, according to the airport company, the land was handed over to the company which operates Equator Village without the knowledge of the airport during former President Abdullah Yameen's administration.
The hotel's staff quarters are located separately from the hotel, near the infamous Rahge in Gan. Although the road leading to the airport will remain the main road still in use, the new road to be developed near Rahge would serve as the departure road.
Infrastructure Minister Dr. Abdullah Muthalib had earlier said the road construction would be removed from the project if a decision on the building removal is not finalised by the 17th of this month. This is because the government may have to pay a large compensation to Renaatus, the Indian contractor for the project.
However, the minister said that if the road development cannot be carried out without vacating the land where the staff quarters are located, the road development project would be implemented as a separate project as soon as land is available.
The expansion of Gan International Airport started in June 2023. At the time, the project was scheduled to be completed in March this year. However, the project has been extended to until November due to various delays.
Waheed said 60 percent of the project has already been completed. The project, which is being implemented under India's line of credit, will cost USD 30 million (MVR 463 million). According to plans, the project will also expand the passenger terminal and cargo storage as well as develop the airport's roads and aircraft parking spaces.
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