President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said last night that he is confident the Thilamale' Bridge will be of good quality and expressed hope that construction will be completed within about a year.
During PSM's "Nation Chat" podcast, President Muizzu said he has been keeping a close eye on the 6.74 kilometer bridge project that will connect Male', Vilimale, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi that started during the previous Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government.
Opposition parties have expressed criticism over statements that it was the current government that expedited the Thilamale' Bridge project.
The work to connect all of the pre-cast segments of the bridge between Male' and Vilimale' was completed last week.
“It just so happened that I could see the progress of the bridge from the window of my room at home [Dhimyaath]. Sometimes I would see a crane, and sometimes it had fallen and was inoperable because of the wind. That is how those two years have been,” the president said.
"I am not saying there were not even two pillars when our government took office. I am simply saying that is how the two years were."
According to the President, he took the initiative to expedite the Thilamale' Bridge project and announced it during the first meeting that was held with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Muizzu's first meeting with Modi was during the COP28 summit in 2023, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“When I first met Prime Minister Modi, I took the initiative and expressed my desire to ensure the successful implementation of this project. I proposed establishing a high-level committee between the two countries to closely monitor the project, oversee its progress and ensure its completion,” the president said.
The President said that after the meeting, a high-level committee between both countries was created, with the committee working together with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development to expedite the project.
The President went on to say that this project was highly prioritized by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and Minister Muththalib since the beginning. He also said that Muththalib, in his capacity as a minister when the Sinamale' bridge project was underway, worked in the same manner.
President Muizzu said that the priority that was given to the Sinamale' Bridge project is being given to the Thilamale' Bridge project and results of it are being seen over the past two and a half years of the current government.
"I cannot offer an exact date yet but we hope the project will see completion within a year, with the bridge being built up until Thilafushi within 2027," the President said.
President Muizzu continued and said that even though the hope is to complete the section of bridge between Male' and Vilimale' as soon as possible and make it operational, there are still many technical aspects to look at.
"From the information I receive, asphalt needs to be poured onto the bridge up until Gulhifalhu, with the site being in Gulhifalhu currently. It has not gotten to the point where it can begin being used even if Vilimale' and Male' are connected," said President Muizzu.
The president said no questions had been raised about the quality of the bridge and expressed confidence that it would be of good quality.
The President said that the quality of the Thilamale' Bridge is being maintained by Arup, a global consultancy known for doing such work.
"Arup is one of the world's best bridge project consultant companies. The same director at the company that assessed the Sinamale' Bridge is assessing the quality of the Thilamale' Bridge. The same company, the same team," said the President.
Built with Indian assistance, India's Afcons Infrastructure Ltd has already finished all of the underwater works for the Thilamale' Bridge.
The bridge is being developed at a cost of USD 500 million (MVR 7.7 billion), including USD 400 million under a line of credit from the Exim Bank of India and USD 100 million in grant aid from the Indian government.
