President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced that a project to develop Hanimaadhoo International Airport will commence during 2020.
This announcement was made as a response to queries posed during the Northern Conference that was hosted in Kulhudhuffushi City on Wednesday night, where the president was in attendance.
Stating that the airport will be developed to international standard as part of the project, Solih added that the government will allocate funds for project “in any way possible”.
Detailing the president’s announcement, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail gave the government’s assurance that work to develop the airport will be kicked off within the ongoing year.
Fayyaz added his belief that it is important to establish an international airport up to modern standards in Thiladhunmathi region in order to “succeed” and that everything is not set just because an “international” board has been put up.
Highlighting that a contract to develop the airport will officially be signed during mid-2020, the minister added that the public will be able to observe how the airport’s work enhances into the end of the ongoing year.
Further, Fayyaz stated that the delay in developing the airport was caused by a difference of opinion.
According to the first concept design, there was not enough space to expand it beyond 2,800 meters. I believed we might have to expand the runway up to 3,600 meters even 20 years into the future. So, we began work anew, with the help from the Transport Ministry. This caused the delay. However, the Transport Ministry has completed the design concept.”Minister Fayyaz.
Funds for the development project have been allocated through loan facility and different investments,
Developing Hanimaadhoo International Airport to international standard has been deliberated during the previous administrations as well. There have been public complaints over the underdevelopment of the airport despite being the only airport in Thiladhunmathi region, for a long period of time.
While the airport has a runway measuring 30 meters in width and 1,220 meters in length, the runway is required to be expanded in order for bigger aircrafts to land at the airport.
