Addu Link Road expansion to four lanes awarded to Chinese firm
25 ސެޕްޓެމްބަރު 2026 | ހުކުރު 08:48The Maldivian government has contracted China’s Rotime Engineering to upgrade the Addu Link Road into a modern four-lane highway. The project, covering a 12.3-kilometer stretch, was reassigned after being removed from the Road Development Corporation’s (RDC) scope due to a lack of progress. While the international firm will handle the main link road, the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure confirmed that the RDC will remain responsible for developing the interconnected internal roads.
Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib and Zhu Weidong, Managing Director of China’s Roadtime Engineering and Technology, sign the agreement to redevelop the Link Road. | Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure
The Addu Link Road development project has officially commenced under a Chinese contractor, following the decision to remove the scope of work from the Road Development Corporation (RDC), which was previously tasked with the project.
At a ceremony held at the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, the agreement for this project was signed on behalf of the government by Minister Dr. Abdulla Muththalib. Managing Director Zhu Weidong signed the agreement on behalf of China's Rotime Engineering and Technology Co., Ltd.
According to the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, the agreement entails expanding the Link Road to four lanes from the Detour Bridge to the Hithadhoo Stadium. This project will involve the modern redevelopment of a 12.3-kilometer stretch of road. However, the total project cost and the expected completion timeline have not yet been disclosed.
The major project to develop the roads and drainage systems of the connected islands in Addu City was initially awarded to the Road Development Corporation (RDC) for MVR 829.8 million, with a completion timeline of three years and nine months. Although President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu officially inaugurated the project during his visit to Addu last November, no physical progress has been made over the intervening months. Consequently, the Ministry has confirmed that the project scope has been revised, with the redevelopment of the Link Road now being contracted to a Chinese firm. However, the development of the internal roads surrounding the Link Road will remain under the mandate of the RDC.
The initial construction of the 16-kilometer Addu Link Road, which connects Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Feydhoo, and Gan, began in 2001 during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The project was completed and the highway officially opened for public use in 2003.
The road was constructed 22 years ago under a $7.9 million loan facility provided by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project was executed by Højgaard & Schultz-Eslebanan, a joint venture between Danish and Lebanese firms. The road was designed by John Smart, an expert from New Zealand.
This road, which once provided significant travel convenience for the residents of Addu, has now fallen into severe disrepair due to a lack of adequate maintenance over an extended period.
