President: Kulhudhuffushi Airport will be built, made operational in 2017

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom announced that money to build an airport in H. Dh. Kulhudhuffushi had been allocated in the projected State budget, saying that the airport will be built and made operational in 2017.

Addressing the people of H. Dh. Hirimaradhoo after officially inaugurating Hirimaradhoo Harbor this Tuesday afternoon, President Yameen said that building an airport in Kulhudhuffushi was something which had been discussed a lot in the past. He said the project had lay stagnant due to lack of cooperation from the Kulhudhuffushi Council at the time.

It had been discussed that the airport would be built in the swamp area in Kulhudhuffushi, something that many opposed due to concern over the negative environmental impact.

President Yameen said that if the council had cooperated with the government, Kulhudhuffushi would now have had its airport.

“But we didn’t get the cooperation from the council at the time. But the current council agrees that it should let us build the airport as we wish,” he said.

He said that airports would be built in both H. Dh. Kulhudhuffushi and Sh. Funadhoo.

He said that the plans were a “done deal”.

President Yameen said that each airport would cost approximately USD 14 million to build. He said the projects would be funded either by assistance from international sources through their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, or by leasing more islands for resort development.

“We have waited for so long. But since it wasn’t happening, we have decided to start building an airport in Kulhudhuffushi next year. It will also be made fully operational,” said President Yameen.

An airport already lays 18 kilometers away from Kulhudhuffushi, in H. Dh. Hanimaadhoo.

President Yameen said that Hanimaadhoo, and its airport were great assest.

“But we need to consider the inconvenience of travel from Hanimaadhoo to Kulhudhuffushi in rough seas,” said President Yameen. “Kulhudhuffushi is the most populous island in the north, and can be made an economic hub. This is why we are doing this for Kulhudhuffushi.”