Project to develop airport in Farukolhu to be awarded to company in which Simdi holds shares

The Ministry of Tourism has said that it has been decided to award the project to develop a domestic airport in Shaviyani Farukolhu to Aram Travels, in which Simdi Company holds shares.

Aram Travels is a company in which the husband of Environment Minster Dr Mariyam Shakeela, Ibrahim Didi (Simdi Didi) holds shares.

An official of the Tourism Ministry said that Aram Travels was the only company to express interest when the government invited groups to submit expression of interest documents to develop an airport with a 1,200 meter runway in Farukolhu.

“The company expressed interest for this project early this year. But this was delayed due to delays in arriving at a decision regarding the proposition to develop a resort in Vaavu Bodumohora along with the development of the airport. Now it has been decided to lease Gaafu Alifu Innareha instead,” he said.

The official said that Innareha will be leased for resort development for 50 years.

“People of the island have been complaining for a long time due to delays in the development of the airport. It was delayed because of the delay in the decision about which island to lease for resort development. But now the agreement regarding the development of the airport will be signed soon,” he said.

The issue of Vaavu Bodumohora is now in court.