The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has begun the physical work of the Sinamale’ Bridge maintenance project.

The physical work of the project began on Saturday.

The Implementation Agreement on China-Maldives Friendship Bridge Maintenance Works was contracted on 20 March 2024.

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib signed the agreement on behalf of the Maldivian government, with Ambassador of China to Maldives Wang Lixin signing on behalf of the government of China.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ following the signing ceremony, Ambassador Lixin stated that the government of China would provide free maintenance work for the bridge in the next three years.

Further, the government of China will also be assisting in efforts to train local staff to ensure it remains in good condition in the long run.

The project is part of the Letter of Exchange and Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of China and Maldives agreement signed between the two countries.

26,150,000.00 Chinese yuan or USD 3.6 million is expected to be spent on the project

Some of the key work entailed in the agreement include performing initial repairs, identifying and resolving existing repairs, preventive maintenance, establishing a system to maintain the record of bridge maintenance activities and making assessments related to the detection of maintenance issues.

Further, it also entails carrying out routine maintenance tasks including routine periodic maintenance activities to identify repairs required for several components of the bridge and perform maintenance work, as well as building capabilities of local technicians to carry out the maintenance work.

As part of the work to build capabilities of local technicians to carry out the maintenance work, the team will be able to carry out maintenance work under the supervision of this team by ensuring Maldivians are trained to the extent that they can take over bridge maintenance work by the end of the agreement period.

The team will have the necessary skills and training as part of this initiative.

Maldivians are to be trained in bridge engineering, road engineering, electro-mechanical, traffic safety, facility landscaping and bridge maintenance.