The government will announce invitation to tender for the Malé–Hulhulé bridge project in early June, President Abdulla Yameen revealed last night.
Speaking in the Feydhoo ward of Addu City, President Yameen said the company chosen in the bidding process would commence a technical survey upon being awarded the project.
“God willing, before the end of the first two weeks of June, we will tender the bridge project. With that, additional studies needed for the project – that is the direction and extent of ocean currents – will be undertaken by the party awarded the tender,” he explained.
He added that the construction of a bridge connecting the capital and the airport as well as the reclaimed artificial island of Hulhumalé was “a dream” of the current administration.
Yameen also appealed for support and cooperation from the public to successfully implement the government’s infrastructure development projects.
He reiterated calls for the public to ensure cooperation of the People’s Majlis for the executive through their elected representatives.
Yameen said he did not doubt that the development of a “Youth City” in Hulhumalé would solve the problem of high unemployment among youth.
In February, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed pledged that the Malé – Hulhulé bridge project – which he described as “iconic for the whole region” – would be completed in two years.
Of 19 parties that had expressed interest in the project, Saeed noted that seven were international companies.
First announced as a campaign pledge of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 2008, a bridge connecting the congested island of Malé with its relatively spacious suburb was also an aim of Gayoom’s successor Mohamed Nasheed.
In December 2011, the President’s Office revealed that preliminary surveys conducted by international experts had established the viability of the project with an estimated cost of between US$70 million and US$100 million.
Upon assuming office in November 2013, the present administration called for expressions of interest for the project under a public-private partnership contract that would require the selected company to engage in the design, build, financing, maintenance and operation of the bridge.
“Primary objective of the government is to bring a relief to the socio-economic issues arising from the urban congestion that is present in Malé,” the Ministry of Economic Development explained at the time.
Former Minister of Economic Development Mahmoud Razee – a member of Nasheed’s cabinet – meanwhile told Minivan News in February that a bridge would improve local commerce and reduce traffic congestion in Malé.
“There will be a mediation of the traffic because what happens in Malé – in the afternoons and evenings – a lot of the traffic is leisure traffic as motorcycles are out on the road, not to go to any particular place but for the sake of having a ride. If these are connected, the area they are able to mill around is increased by several kilometers,” he explained.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony in Hulhumalé last month, President Yameen said that the vision of his administration was to develop the artificial island as a “youth village” with a population of 50,000 people.
Hulhumalé will become “a paradise on earth” for migrants from across the country, he said, whilst economic opportunities would be created by the construction of a bridge connecting the island to the nearby capital city.
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Indian construction companies should stay away from yet another grandiose project the Maldives can ill afford.
After the GMR fiasco it ain't worth the risk guys.....halfway through the contract there may be a change of government (or a police led coup ) and your contract will be terminated willy nilly.
Eager contractors from Singapore, Beijing, Pyongyang, Harare, Mogadishu and Islamabad are welcome to this project.....and good luck to them.
The islanders in Maldives purposely deprived of basic necessities to force them to migrate to #Hulhumale’ reclaimed land near Maldives Capital. The indigenous populations living in the islands are to be sacrificed to pave way for commercial use of our islands such as leasing them for 99 years to companies. Government to spend more than 200million USdollars on this project which include reclamation of 2nd phase of Hulhumale’ and establishment of Hulhu-Male bridge connecting Capital and its satellite man-made island Hulhule which can be accessed by a 5 minute ferry already in place. Priority is given to this Bridge instead of creating a nationwide transport system which will connect all inhabited islands making it easy for remote islanders to connect with one another within the atoll. It costs only about 50 million US$ to provide basic services such as drinking and sewage system to each inhabited island in the Maldives. No urgency or priority is given to provide such basic needs concerning the islands to force emptying of indigenous populations living there.
We the people of Raajjetere (islanders) urge this website to highlight our case in one of your articles asap
Maldives government getting ready to submit a law to evict islanders to cities made up of reclaimed land in the name of development. While we are calling to connect all inhabited islands with transport network and improve services instead of wasting billions of rufiyaa to create artificial islands which have already posed a threat to our enviourment endangering UNESCO biosphere reserve in some instances. Maldives at its current status as a small island nation with dispersed population has achieved almost all MDGs without migrating into cities and there is no reason we could go to the next level of development without losing our identities as an island nation and islanders.
This is great.
Wouldn't it be so much better if the rattle snakes' don't fight each other and start spending money just for the development of the nation.
So much was wasted these past years, each trying to outwit the other.
Parties! Pull yourself together and work together.
why build a brigade.
Better use Boskalis and reclaim/refill the lagoon between male and Hulhule. Thats would provide an addistiinal benefit of more land , plus the project would be faster, simpler and no need to spend on maintaining a bridge.
Also a narrow waterway can be done to ease the flow of currents - who knows, with an addeed possibility to drive a turbine bu wave power.
Bridge is a silly idea
@Raajjetheremeeher on Mon, 19th May 2014 3:50 PM
You must direct your efforts to educate your compatriots to what is in their best interests. This government and most PPM MPs were elected by your Raajetherey Meehun. They obviously do not aspire to what you state. They are happy that their religion and airport is safe.
Besides why the hate for the bridge? It will reduce congestion and lower rents. If rents are lower, shops have lower overheads and competition will ensure lower prices of goods. Good for the Raajethery too, no?
@peasant
Thats your wish. but realty is this
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/opinion/54843
"The more populated the city became, the more its inhabitants were being reminded of the horrible Male city they had left behind. Garbage started piling up on streets and street corners, crimes of unimaginable natures started happening on the still developing roads, construction surged uncontrollably with the white collar businessmen immediately recognising the profit in investing there.
The Male 'matchbox-housing' system has begun in Hulhumale too, as families of 20 people try to fit in three-room apartments. The rumours spreading about one of the deadliest spiders loose in Hulhumale make you quiver inside whenever you think about taking that long walk you so used to love. Most of the Hulhumale population still travelling to Male for education and employment make travelling via the ferry service a headache and something you dread"
Enjoy reading