Housing Ministry: Bridge cost not a burden for government

Deputy Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Abdul Mutthalib has said that the cost of the Malé-Hulhulé bridge would not be burden for the government.

Speaking on “50 Minute” on Sun TV on Monday, Mutthalib said half of the project would be financed by a grant provided by the Chinese government, and the other half by a soft loan obtained by the government.

The total cost of the bridge project is $200 million.

A project management team from China’s CCCC Second Harbour Engineering, contracted to undertake the construction of the bridge, arrived in Maldives on Monday night.

Muttalib said the team would conduct necessary assessments and the idea is to make arrangements for mobilisation as soon as possible.

He added that work related to the bridge is also ongoing in China.

About 40,000 square metres will be allocated from the newly-reclaimed area in Hulhumalé for the the base of the bridge and establishment of labour quarters, while another 5,000 square metres will be dedicated for machineries and a site office.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge is to be 1.39 km long and 20 metres wide. Housing Ministry says the bridge would have two lanes for four-wheel vehicles, two lanes for motorcycles, and a separate lane each for bicycles and pedestrians.

The project is estimated to be completed in 2018.