AFCONS Infrastructure Limited has revealed that the bridge connecting Male’ and Villimale’ will be usable by July next year.
The India-based company made the remarks while providing information to a team of Maldivian journalists that visited its main building in Mumbai.
Afcons Infrastructure Limited is developing the Thilamale’ Bridge under the Greater Male’ Connectivity Project (GMCP). The project scope includes the construction of three navigation bridges, viaducts, and on-grade roads linking Male’, Villimale’, Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu.
Officials of AFCONS infrastructure told the visiting team of journalists that the project is proceeding according to schedule. Director of Operations RVR Kishore said the company has a record of completing its projects within the deadline and expressed confidence that the Thilamale’ Bridge project will also be completed on time. Company officials also said they have completed over 50% of the geotechnical survey and that the work will be completed by October despite the worsening weather conditions. They said the design work and the work to build the temporary bridge is also ongoing. They added that that the bridge connecting Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi will be built by December next year and the entire project is expected to be completed in 2024.
Furthermore, officials of AFCONS Infrastructure said the Thilamale’ Bridge project is being carried out with 88 engineers and that the team will be expanded to 164 engineers by the end of the year, while the foreign labourers working at the sites will be increased from 500 to 1,227. They also said that work is being done to transfer the sea habitats and trees at the project sites to other areas, and that special equipment is being used to prevent contaminants from leaving the sites via ocean currents.
The GMCP is the single-largest infrastructure project in the Maldives and is expected to become a national economic engine, and a lifeline connecting Male’ to Villimale’, Gulhifalhu, and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone.
