An end to a long wait: Vilimale-Male’ to be linked via bridge tomorrow

The final segment connecting Malé and Villimalé under the Thilamalé Bridge project is scheduled to be completed tomorrow, formally linking the two islands via bridge. 

Afcons Infrastructure, the Indian company contracted for the project, informed Sun that a special ceremony to commemorate the historic milestone will be held tomorrow at 11:00am.

The company stated that the installation of the final segment marks the completion of the "superstructure", or the main framework, of the bridge section connecting Malé and Villimalé.

However, Afcons noted that several administrative and technical tasks, including finishing works, the installation of safety railings, and lighting, will still need to be completed. Consequently, although the main framework will be structurally connected, public access to the bridge will only begin after all finishing works have been completed.

The Thilamalé Bridge project, initiated during the administration of former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and awarded to Afcons, encountered significant delays despite several previously announced completion deadlines. Work has continued under the current administration to complete the long-awaited project.

Afcons Infrastructure signed the agreement for the Thilamalé Bridge project in August 2021, which was financed through a USD 400 million loan from the Exim Bank of India. Physical construction officially commenced on August 2, 2022, following an inauguration ceremony attended by President Solih and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Solih's visit to India.

President Muizzu assumed office with a pledge to assess the status of the Thilamalé Bridge project within his first 100 days. Within his first week in office, he personally inspected construction sites in Malé, the sea area between Malé and Villimalé, and the precasting facilities in Gulhifalhu. At the time, construction of the deep-sea pillars in the Malé area was underway, while several pillars were already visible above the water near Villimalé.

During the first press briefing of the current administration, former Under Secretary for Public Policy at the President’s Office Mohamed Firzul Abdulla Khaleel stated that information obtained during the transitional period uncovered that the project was only 27 percent complete at the time, despite an expected completion target of 77 percent.

The previous administration had set the final completion deadline for the bridge at mid-2024, while the Malé-Villimalé connection was initially expected to be established by 2023. However, neither target was achieved.

In a recent episode of "The Pulse" podcast, President Muizzu stated that the actual physical progress of the Thilamalé Bridge project had to virtually be commenced from scratch after his administration assumed office.