The government has signed an agreement with an Indian company for the Thilamale’ bridge project, or the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), on Thursday.

The 6.74km long bridge agreement was signed at a ceremony held at Hotel Jen on Thursday morning, with India’s Afcons Infrastructure Limited. Planning ministry's Permanent Secretary Zeeniya Ahmed signed the agreement on the government's behalf while Director Anantha Kumar signed for Afcons.

Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam and Transport Minister Aishath Nahula attended the signing ceremony, as well as the Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir.

While the projected is being funded by India, a USD 100 million grant agreement for the project was signed during Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shingla’s visit to the archipelago nation last year.

Maldives has signed a Line of Credit agreement with the Exim Bank of India for USD 400 million for the development of the bridge in October last year, and was given at a 1.7 percent interest rate with a five-year gross period and it is supposed to be returned within a 20-year period.

This bridge and causeway link will connect capital city Malé with adjoining islands of Villimale', Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

While the GMCP is a key pledge of incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the government made a request to India during External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to the Maldives in September 2019.

The project is expected to be completed in 2 years, in 2023.

The project composes of three navigation bridges, and while the land that interchanges between Male’ and Villimale is to be “signalised junctions”, there are to be roundabouts in the other two islands. Bus terminals are to be established on each island as well.

Further, plans are to use renewable energy to reduce impact on climate, the project will use solar power for road lighting, navigation lighting, deck cell lighting, CCTV and lighting on sign gantry and architectural lighting, with solar panels to be installed on top of lamp posts.

Indian high commission in Maldives said that enhancing connectivity within the Maldives as well as between the Maldives and India is a priority area. It added that the GMCP will not only provide a major boost to connectivity between these islands but is also expected to redefine the economic landscape of the country.

While the Thilamale' Bridge will is the largest ever infrastructure project in the Maldives, it is the second over-water bridge; the first one, the Sinamale' Bridge, was developed by the previous administration with China's support.