Addu Link Road: One year on, RDC’s only progress is clearing roadside vegetation

Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib has announced the decision to reassign the Addu Link Road modernization project to a new contractor. The project had previously been awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) on April 8, 2025.

During Monday's Parliament sitting, Maradhoo MP Ahmed Didi questioned the attending Minister regarding the lack of progress on the Addu Link Road project. The MP noted that despite a year passing since the project was awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC), no work has commenced. He questioned why such a critical project was entrusted to a company that seemingly lacks the necessary capacity and further inquired about the projected completion date for the work.

In response to the question, Minister Muththalib noted that the Addu Link Road is currently in a state of severe disrepair and emphasized that its reconstruction would require significant financial investment. The Minister further explained that the project was awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) as a strategic measure to ensure the work is carried out cost-effectively.

To ensure the project is as cost-effective as possible, the Road Development Corporation (RDC) was provided with the necessary machinery and equipment to carry out the work at cost price. While they are currently proceeding with clearing the route, the public, as you noted, expects a paved surface that offers a more convenient commute. Consequently, we are now exploring ways to expedite the project by seeking another party to specifically handle the asphalt paving of the Link Road.

Dr. Abdulla Muththalib

The government announced that work had finally commenced last November, seven months after the project was initially awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC). In May, six months following that announcement, RDC stated that they had begun clearing the site and relocating trees along the road to other areas to facilitate the project's progress.

Muththalib has provided assurances that physical work on the Addu Link Road will commence within 2024; however, two years have passed without any practical progress being made on the project.

Despite being questioned on the matter multiple times in Parliament, Muththalib has failed to provide a direct answer. Even as members repeatedly pressed for clarification, the Minister would only state that physical work on the project is expected to commence very soon.