Thilamale Bridge delays caused by rough seas and contractor's learning curve: Minister
Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muthalib has attributed delays in the Thilamalé Bridge project to the contractor's lack of experience in operating within such challenging maritime conditions. Speaking in Parliament, the Minister stated that rather than penalizing the contractor, the government’s priority is to resolve existing hurdles and ensure the project’s full completion by the end of 2027. He further noted that while construction continues uninterrupted, the government is working closely with the Indian authorities to expedite the process.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib. | People's Majlis
The Thilamale Bridge project is proceeding without interruption, though progress has been slow, according to Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. The Minister noted that constructing a bridge in a region with such challenging sea conditions is a complex undertaking that is not easily accomplished, adding that the contractor required additional time to adapt to the local environment.
During Tuesday's parliamentary sitting, the Minister emphasized that the Thilamale Bridge project is a vital initiative for the development of the Greater Male' Area and remains crucial to addressing the region's housing crisis.
The Minister stated that since its inception, the government has consistently worked in coordination with both the contractor and the Indian government to ensure the project's completion as swiftly as possible. He further noted that continuous efforts have been made to resolve existing challenges and find viable ways to move the work forward.
The Minister stated that the primary reason for the delay is the complexity of constructing a bridge in a region with such turbulent sea conditions, noting that it is not a task that can be easily undertaken by just any party.
As I stated during my first press conference after assuming office, constructing a bridge in a region with such turbulent sea conditions is not a task that just anyone can easily accomplish. Since the contractor assigned to this project had no prior experience with such work, they required time to learn the process. We are still seeing the effects of this learning curve. Despite the deadlines we set, and even after the previous administration granted an additional 30-month extension for completion, the project remained unfinished when that 30-month period expired this past March.President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib.
Minister Muththalib stated that efforts are currently underway to complete the project by granting the contractor an extension. He further noted that imposing fines or taking punitive action against the contractor at this stage would lead to a project standstill, which would ultimately result in no benefit to the public.
The Minister stated that the government is working closely with the contractor and the Indian government to complete the project as swiftly as possible, adding that the bridge is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
President Muizzu recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress of the project, which is being carried out by India's Afcons Infrastructure under a combination of Indian loans and grants. The President noted, however, that the government currently finds itself with limited recourse to address the delays.
