80% of land reclamation works complete for Vilufushi airport

The land reclamation works for an airport in Th. Vilufushi is now 80 percent complete, says Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).

MACL was contracted to develop and operate an airport in Vilufushi on September 24 in a ceremony attended by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Land reclamation works for the project were inaugurated the same day.

In a statement on Thursday, MACL said that land reclamation works began on November 14.

The company said that land reclamation works in Vilufushi are progressing steadily.

“To date, 65 hectares have been reclaimed out of a total of 81 hectares. This represents 80% of the overall project completion,” said the MACL.

According to MACL, the works are being carried out by Filippo Brunelleschi, a dredger with a capacity of 11,300 m³.

“The project is progressing in line with schedule,” added the company.

The MACL has said that the project will see the development of an airport with a 1,200-meter runway, a modern passenger terminal and other facilities.

During a meeting with residents of Vilufushi back in September, President Muizzu said the airport project would be done in under 30 months.

The Th. Atoll already has an airport in Thimarafushi, which was developed during former President Mohamed Nasheed’ administrations. However, the demand for the airport is low, due to little economic activity in the region.