Addu Link Road Development Project: At the top of the priority list for three years!
29 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 10:22The Member of Parliament for the Maradhoo constituency has expressed concern over delays in the Addu Link Road development project, despite the Housing Minister’s assurance that the process of awarding the contract to a new party is underway. Although the government maintains that the project remains a priority, the lack of physical progress has led to growing skepticism regarding the fulfillment of the President's pledges.
Addu Link Road severely dilapidated. | Mihaaru
Ahmed Didi, the Member of Parliament for the Maradhoo constituency, has expressed concern over the lack of physical progress on the Addu Link Road project.
Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Vaudhunaama" program, MP Didi stated that there is no certainty regarding President Muizzu’s ability to fulfill his pledges. He noted that even when looking at the Addu Link Road development project, no significant practical progress is currently visible.
Member Didi stated that when he recently requested an update on the Addu Link Road project from Housing Minister Abdulla Muththalib, the Minister informed him that the project is currently in the process of being handed over to a new contractor.
Highlighting Minister Muththalib’s previous remarks that the Addu Link Road project is a top government priority, MP Didi noted that despite these assurances, no physical progress has materialized even as three years have passed.
The Minister repeatedly claims in Parliament that this project has been the government's top priority since 2024; these statements are a matter of public record. In 2024, he asserted it was the number one priority project across the entire Maldives, and he maintained the same stance for 2025. Yet, as 2026 draws to a close, we have yet to see any physical progress or practical work on the ground.Ahmed Didi
The Addu Link Road was first opened for public use in 2003. Over the years, the road has undergone significant deterioration, and despite several rounds of repairs, it remains in poor condition.
The modernization of this road is a key pledge of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. To fulfill this commitment, the government contracted the Road Development Corporation (RDC) on April 8, 2025, to complete the project within a timeframe of 1,440 days. Following the awarding of the contract, President Muizzu officially inaugurated the project during a visit to Addu City in November 2025.
The government announced that work on the project finally commenced in November 2025, seven months after it was initially awarded to RDC. Six months later, in May 2026, RDC stated that they had begun clearing the site and relocating trees along the road to facilitate the project's progress.
However, Housing Minister Muththalib stated in August that the government has decided to award the project for the modern redevelopment of the Addu Link Road to a different contractor.
Despite being questioned on the matter multiple times in Parliament, Minister Muththalib has failed to provide a direct answer. Even as members repeatedly pressed for clarification on several occasions, the Minister would only state that physical work on the project is expected to commence very soon.
