Minister of Finance, Ibrahim Ameer has refuted claims that the management of the airport being developed in Hoarafushi island of Haa Alif atoll has been entrusted to an India-based company.

The minister was summoned for questioning by parliamentarians during Wednesday’s sitting of the People’s Majlis.

Responding to a question posed by Hoarafushi constituency MP Ahmed Saleem regarding false reports in connection to the airport development project, the minister noted that the its management was never contracted to an India-based company.

The minister’s validation regarding the airport development project comes at a time the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) has been accusing the government of contracting major development projects to India-based companies.

This comes after the government of India decided to fund the northern Hanimaadhoo Airport development project. India decided to fund the Hanimaadhoo International Airport expansion project under the USD 800 million Line of Credit from EXIM Bank of India following a request from the government of Maldives.

The neighboring nation has been providing Maldives with extensive support both financially and materially amid the Covid-19 crisis facing economies across the globe with numerous challenges. As such, India has announced USD 250 million as loans to the island nation in support of the Covid-19 recovery efforts.

Funded under the larger USD 800 million Line of Credit facilitated by the Indian authorities, seven mega infrastructure projects are being undertaken currently, including water and sewerage networks across 34 islands, reclamation and road development in southernmost Addu City, development of Gulhifalhu Port and expansion of MIFCO facilities.

This has drawn criticism from the opposition coalition, which has been voicing discontent against the government of India.

The airport was initially planned to be built in Maafinolhu by the previous administration of now incarcerated former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and it was assigned to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) on March 25, 2019 for MVR 198 million.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih inaugurated the construction work on March 31, 2019 and MTCC revealed that they expect to complete the project by the end of the ongoing month. By June, MTCC had completed 83 percent of the project.

The project includes the construction of a runway measuring 1,200 meters, an apron and taxiway measuring 8,635 square meters, a parking area measuring 9,473 square meters as well as service roads in front of the terminal, said the company. MTCC was also contracted to build a fire access road measuring 1,718 square meters and a 720-meter airport security and beach fence area.