President inaugurates mega project to upgrade Gan International Airport

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, on Sunday, inaugurated physical works on the mega USD 29.7 million (MVR 455.8 million) project to upgrade the Gan International Airport in Addu City.

The project was inaugurated in a ceremony held at the airport Sunday morning.

India’s Renaatus was contracted to conduct the project back on March 5.

The project will see the airport’s capacity increased to serve 1.5 million passengers annually.

The project involves:

• Establishment of a passenger terminal with modern facilities
• Development of cold storage and cargo facilities
• Establishment of a fire station
• Development of a new control tower
• Development of roads and parking spaces
• Development of duty-free shops, lounges and restaurants

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Gan International Airport’s manager Gais Naseer said it was a happy day for Addu and the rest of the islands in southern Maldives.

“Today, we begin realizing our longest-held dream. Gan is intricately linked to the livelihood of the people of Addu, and is an island that our ancestors have created numerous economic opportunities at,” he said.

Gais described the project as the beginning of efforts to open the doors of Addu to destinations across the world.

He thanked the president for his efforts to develop Addu.

The Gan International Airport has been described by President Solih’s administration as the main gate to southern Maldives, making the modernization and upgrade of the airport’s capacity and services crucial to the socioeconomic development of Addu, and expand the city’s role in the development of the larger Maldives.