Male’, Maldives – Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has announced that new airports would be built in Bilehffahi island of Shaviyani Atoll, Muli of Meemu Atoll and in Thulhaadhoo of Baa Atoll.
While speaking at a program held to celebrate two years of the Presidency of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, The Transport Minister, Aishath Nahula said that they have planned to build three airports in the islands Sh. Bileffahi, M. Muli and B. Thulhaadhoo.
“The construction of the Bileffahi and Muli airports will be finished during 2021. We have also planned to build an airport in Thulhaadhoo,” Minister Nahula stated.
According to Minister Nahula, over the past two years, the government has successfully finished constructing the airports in Maaruvali and Kulhudhuffushi. She further added that the airport which is currently being built in Ha. Hoarafushi will be completed and opened before the end of this month.
In addition to this, Minister Nahula also said that they plan to open an airport in Madivaru, a small island in Ari Atoll, during the beginning of the upcoming year.
However, the constructions of the airports have not been going as per the information given by the government. While the Minister initially informed to open the Hoarafushi airport on August of this year, it has still not been completed constructed yet. The Minster also said that the airport in Madivaru will be opened on April.
While the Tranport Minister announced additional airports to be build in the islands of Maldives, Speaker and Former President of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed recently supported the idea of utilizing regional facilities in Maldives rather than developing airports, harbors and hospitals in each island of the country. Speaker Nasheed also talked about developing the regional infrastructure of the country so that land of small islands are not taken up by large scale infrastructures such as airports.
