Final segment connecting Villingili and Gulhifalhu, installed under "Thilamale' Bridge" project initiated by previous administration
31 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 11:04The Minister of Infrastructure has hailed the installation of the final segment connecting Vilimale' and Gulhifalhu as a major milestone for the Thilamale' Bridge project. With Male’ and Vilimale’ already linked under this Indian-funded initiative, the successful connection of these two islands marks significant progress in what remains one of the largest infrastructure developments ever undertaken in the Maldives.
The bridge connecting Villimale' and Gulhifalhu. | Social Media
The final segment connecting Villimale' and Gulhifalhu has been successfully installed under the "Thilamale' Bridge" project, the largest infrastructure initiative launched during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib announced the completion of this phase in a post on X. Minister Muththalib stated that a significant milestone in the project was achieved on Friday with the installation of the final segment of the bridge connecting Vilimale’ and Gulhifalhu.
Minister Muththalib stated that with the completion of this work, the two islands are now physically connected by the bridge. He further noted that this marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity between islands through various means.
Minister Muththalib congratulated the project contractor, Afcons, along with Arup and the team at the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, on this achievement. In a social media post, the Minister expressed his sincere gratitude to the Indian government for its invaluable support of the project and thanked all parties involved for their hard work and dedication in reaching this milestone.
The Thilamale' Bridge project comprises three primary links: the bridge connecting Male' and Villingili, the bridge between Villingili and Gulhifalhu, and the link connecting Gulhifalhu to Thilafushi. In a significant milestone, the final segment of the bridge connecting Male' and Villingili has now been installed, successfully completing the physical link between the two islands.
The Indian High Commission in the Maldives previously stated that this bridge, which commenced during former President Solih's administration, features the tallest precast segments of any bridge in the world. According to the Commission, the precast segments of the Thilamale’ Bridge superstructure will reach a height of 8.177 meters.
The project involves the construction of three bridges and causeways, along with a road network spanning a total length of 6.7 kilometers. Additionally, the project includes the development of interchange points and parking areas to facilitate seamless access to and from each connected island.
The entire project is valued at $500 million, funded through a $100 million grant from the Indian government and a $400 million line of credit. As one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the Maldives, the Thilamale’ Bridge project has been awarded to India’s Afcons Infrastructure.
