The final segment of the Thilamalé Bridge between Vilimalé and Gulhifalhu has been put in place, joining Malé, Vilimalé and Gulhifalhu by the bridge structure, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib said on 30 October.
In a social media post, the minister thanked contractor Afcons Infrastructure and the Government of India for their support for the project.
The Malé–Vilimalé section was structurally connected on 22 August. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu inspected the project on 30 August and walked across from Malé to Vilimalé.
Not yet open to traffic
The structural connection does not mean the bridge is open. Afcons has said finishing and safety works, including railings and street lighting, must be completed before the bridge opens to the public.
Road works linking the bridge to Gulhifalhu are continuing, and revetment works are under way at Thilafushi. No official opening date has been announced. President Muizzu has said he hopes the bridge will be completed next year.
About the project
The Thilamalé Bridge is 6.7 km long, about six times the length of the 1.4 km Sinamalé Bridge, the first bridge in the Maldives. It is the largest infrastructure project in Greater Malé.
The project costs USD 500 million, financed through a USD 400 million line of credit from the Exim Bank of India and a USD 100 million grant from the Government of India. It is being built by India's Afcons Infrastructure.