Airports on every island not sustainable: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that constructing airports on every island poses a significant obstacle to the Maldives’ development, even if the goal is to strengthen the transportation system.

In a post shared on X, Nasheed highlighting the importance of improving inter-island connectivity through a robust transport system said that building airports on each island is not a viable development strategy.

He criticized the previous government of President Abdulla Yameen, particularly the development of the airport in Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, which involved the controversial reclamation of the island's mangrove area.

Nasheed led a public campaign against the project at the time and even filed a court case, although it did not lead to any reversal of the project. The airport has now been operational for six years.

Nasheed, currently serving as Secretary General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), stated that constructing an airport in Thinadhoo would be wrong and also expressed opposition to plans for an airport in Fainu.

He cited the recent opening of Meemu atoll Muli Airport as an example of cost overruns and delays.

The airport was handed to MTCC in 2021 under the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for MVR 212 million, but the final project cost reached MVR 540 million due to budget constraints and delays.

Plans for Thinadhoo Airport involve internationalizing it by connecting Thinadhoo and Kaadehdhoo via a bridge. A contract was signed last year with a Thai company for the development.

Similarly, the airport project in Fainu, originally started during Yameen's presidency was halted by the succeeding MDP government over environmental concerns but has now been reassigned to MTCC under the current administration.