President: Contract for Fainu airport will be signed in Feb

The project to develop an airport in R. Fainu will be contracted to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) in February, said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday, adding that practical works on the project will begin soon.

He made the remarks during a visit to Fainu on Thursday afternoon as part of his ongoing tour of R. Atoll.

Addressing a rally in Fainu, President Muizzu said that there were certain challenges to running the project due to decisions made by the previous Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

He said that part of the water and sanitation networks inaugurated in Fainu on Wednesday overlaps with the project site for the airport – something that he alleged was a deliberate act by the previous administration to obstruct the airport project.

“I believe the previous administration did some of the works on the water and sanitation project at the area needed for the airport to deliberately obstruct the construction of the airport,” he said.

President Muizzu said that necessary changes will be made at a low cost during the airport project.

He added that it will be carried out without disrupting utility services.

President Muizzu said that an airport in Fainu will boost the region’s economy by creating resorts and employment opportunities.

“I want to assure you that the administration will make the fulfillment of the aspirations of the people of this island a top priority. We will deliver everything in accordance with your aspirations and by consulting with you,” he said.

President Muizzu said he hopes to open the airport in his next visit to Fainu.

The development of an airport in Fainu was originally a pledge by former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. However, the plan met with resistance from environmentalists and the birth of the ‘Save Fainu’ movement over potential irrevocable damage to the island’s environment.

His successor, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced that the airport will be built in an uninhabited island close to Fainu, instead of the island itself. However, practical works on the project were never initiated.

During his presidential campaign in 2023, President Muizzu said he would build an airport in Fainu if elected.