Giving Hanimaadhoo Airport operations to Indian company good move: Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that handing over the operation of Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo International Airport to an Indian company would be a positive move.

 Nasheed made the remarks after former Henveiru Central MP Ali Azim who is contesting the MDP primary for the mayoral ticket in the upcoming local council elections said he had heard the government was planning to hand over Hanimaadhoo Airport to an Indian company which was a good idea.

Azim said he found the situation somewhat ironic, as members of the current government had previously opposed such arrangements.

Responding to the comment, Nasheed said he was not someone who would criticize or mock efforts aimed at doing something beneficial for the country. He said the best approach was for the government to set clear policies and move towards privatization where appropriate.

Speculation about Hanimaadhoo Airport being handed over to an Indian company emerged after The Hindu reported that the Maldivian government had sought India’s assistance in operating the airport.

The report drew criticism locally and was denied by the government. Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen said all airports in Maldives are operated by Maldivian operators approved by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority, adding that there is no government policy to allow foreign operation of airports.

However, The Hindu reported that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had offered India the opportunity to operate the new Hanimaadhoo International Airport, which opened in November last year, and that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had been tasked with conducting a feasibility study.

AAI manages airports across 26 Indian states, with some facilities operated in partnership with private companies such as GMR and Adani.

During Nasheed’s administration, Velana International Airport was handed over to India’s GMR Group under a 25 year agreement on June 28, 2010.

The decision sparked widespread public opposition.

On November 26, 2012, the government of President Mohamed Waheed terminated the GMR agreement and reclaimed operations of the airport. The Maldives government later paid USD 270 million in compensation to GMR.

At the time, the then opposition PPM led strong protests against the airport concession.

The Hindu noted that more than a decade after the GMR expulsion, Maldives has once again sought Indian assistance in airport operations.