Planning Ministry to clear areas in Industrial Village for GMC Project

Industrial Village in Male' city. | Photo: One Online

Male’, Maldives – Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure announced to clear some of the areas in Industrial Village in capital Male’ city for the major project to build a bridge between Male’ and Thilafushi.

The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), which a 6.7-kilometre bridge and causeway network will be a national economic engine and lifeline connecting Hulhumale’, Hulhule’ and Male’ with the proposed Gulhifalhu Port and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone.

While the project is set to begin soon, a major area of Industrial Village was decided to be used as the construction worksite in Male’.

According to Planning Ministry, operations have already begun to clear some of the areas of the Industrial Village for temporary purposes that are related to the Malé – Thilafushi bridge project.

Noting that the lands that were not given to anyone in that area are allocated for the bridge project, Planning Ministry advised citizens to refrain from parking in those areas and informed them that they have also given instructions to clear out the vehicles that are already parked in those lands.

The Ministry stated that after this, they will not be taking responsibility for any damage a vehicle may incur while they clear the area.

The Male’ city and Thilafushi bridge project assigned to the Afcons Infrastructure Limited of India is one of the biggest development projects of the Maldives. It is being financed through a USD 400 million loan from EXIM Bank of India and with an additional USD 100 million grant from the Indian government. 

The new bridge includes three navigation bridges of 140-meter main span across the deep channel between each island, 1.41 km of the marine viaduct in deep water, 2.32 km marine viaduct in shallow water or on land, and 2.96 km of at-grade roads. Bus terminals are also planned on each island near the junctions with the mainline and the project will use solar power for road lighting, navigation lighting, deck cell lighting, CCTV and lighting on sign gantry and architectural lighting.