Minister Aslam: New design will ease difficulties faced at Addu Commercial Harbor

Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Mohamed Aslam has stated that the newly created design for the Addu Commercial Harbor will ease the difficulties faced by vessels in docking at the harbor.

Minister Aslam had said this in response to a question raised by Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb during a ministerial questioning session held at the Parliament today.

In this regard, MP Ilyas said that whilst the operations at Addu Commercial Harbor remain unsatisfactory – Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) is currently undertaking a project to upgrade the harbor in collaboration with Addu Ports.

On this note, MP Ilyas had asked if any work can be done within the Ministry regarding the upgradation project. He also inquired whether the project can be completed by this year or the next.

In response to MP Ilyas’ queries – Minister Aslam noted that MPL has formulated a comprehensive design for the upgradation, adding that he believed the new design would solve the difficulties faced in using the harbor.

“MPL has come up with a design in order to solve the issue. We have seen that design too. I believe that what has been proposed by MPL will address the issue,” he had said.

Minister Aslam said that when Addu Commercial Harbor was first built – the issues regarding docking were made aware of. However, he said does not know why the current design had not been drawn up in a manner that addresses it.

“Planning Ministry has no role in the implementation of this. MPL will be handling it,” he added.