Housing Minister: Bridge will not be operated by constructor

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that the bridge between Male’ and Hulhule’ will be constructed and operated by two different companies.

Dr Muizzu said on Sun TV’s 50 Minute show on Monday evening, that the party that would maintain and operate the bridge will be decided later.

“We have decided to design the bridge as flawlessly as possible. The number of lanes has not yet been decided,” said Dr Muizzu.

Dr Muizzu said that the Chinese team that arrived in the Maldives recently to conduct the bridge survey represents the leading bridge construction company in China.

He said that the company is presently constructing a 30-kilometre bridge in China, and has been responsible for the construction of some of the longest bridges in China; thus, the team is fully capable of handling the challenges in the construction of the Male-Hulhule’ bridge, said Dr Muizzu.

Speaking at a press conference on 26 October, Deputy Ambassador of China to the Maldives Liu Jiyang said that the Male’-Hulhule’ bridge project survey will go through five stages, and that the decision by the Chinese government regarding providing financial support to the project would be made after the survey.

Liu Jiyang said that the first group of the Chinese survey team consists of eight experts in related fields in China, and it would take them about 40 days to meet with officials of related departments, conduct site survey and data collection, and make the preliminary argumentation on location and route plan, in order to lay a solid foundation for the feasibility study of the next stage.

When asked how much assurance he can give that the bridge project will be completed before the end of the five-year term of this government, Dr Muizzu said, “President Yameen would not have made the promise unless it is possible. I can assure the public that god willing, this is a guaranteed project, and it will be completed before the end of this term.”

He further said that the bridge project is among the high-priority projects of the present government, and all relevant authorities are working together for its successful completion.