Work begins to drill boreholes for bridge project

Efforts are under way to drill boreholes under the design phase of the Malé-Hulhulé bridge project.

The first borehole was drilled at a ceremony near the Tsunami Monument this morning.

Speaking at the ceremony, where ministers and senior government officials were present, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu said that a total of 29 boreholes will be drilled to collect information.

Responding to opposition’s criticisms, Dr Muizzu said that the government knows what it is doing when it comes to the bridge project, and even opposition parties will be happy once the project is completed.

He said that the detailed design will be submitted and tendering will begin over the next month in China, and construction will begin by the end of the year.

Connecting Malé and Hulhulé by a bridge has been one of the major promises of the governments of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom as well as former President Mohamed Nasheed.