Maldives inks pact with AFCONS for Greater Male Connectivity Project

27 Aug 2021 CW Team

The project will be completed by AFCONS, an Indian construction company.

The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd has signed a contract for the Greater Male Connectivity - Male to Thilafushi Link Project.

According to Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives Foreign Minister, this represents a watershed point in the country's progress. He described the project as a lasting testament to their strong cooperation with India.

Mohamed Aslam the Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, Faiyyaz Ismail the Minister of Economic Development, Ibrahim Ameer the Minister of Finance and Aishath Nahula, Minister of Transport, all attended the signing event. The Indian side was represented by Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Sudhir and senior AFCONS officials.

The Chenab Railway Bridge is one of the most extreme engineering projects of AFCONS.

The project is supported by a $100 million grant from India and a $400 million line of credit.

According to an official press release, the GMCP project will be larger than the Sinamale Bridge, which was finished in 2018 and connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule with Chinese help.

"This is yet another recognition of our capabilities to construct mega projects to speed and scale and we are grateful to the Government of Maldives for reposing faith in us to execute this prestigious project,” said S Paramasivan, Managing Director, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.

The GMCP project, which aims to connect four islands that account for almost half of the Maldivian population, will bring dynamism to Maldivian transport and commercial operations.

The project is the product of bilateral talks between India and the Maldives, and it has been in the works since External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Male in September 2019. Male will be connected to the planned international port of Gulhifalhu and the Thilafushi industrial zone, which will be a prominent element of the project.

Image Source

Also read: Cabinet approves MoU between India and Maldives

Also read: Kalpataru subsidiary JMC secures new orders in Maldives and India

Maldives has entered an agreement with Indian construction major AFCONS for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP). The project includes construction of a 6.74 km bridge and causeway connecting Male to the surrounding islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. The project will be completed by AFCONS, an Indian construction company. The Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd has signed a contract for the Greater Male Connectivity - Male to Thilafushi Link Project. According to Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives Foreign Minister, this represents a watershed point in the country's progress. He described the project as a lasting testament to their strong cooperation with India. Mohamed Aslam the Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, Faiyyaz Ismail the Minister of Economic Development, Ibrahim Ameer the Minister of Finance and Aishath Nahula, Minister of Transport, all attended the signing event. The Indian side was represented by Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Sudhir and senior AFCONS officials. The Chenab Railway Bridge is one of the most extreme engineering projects of AFCONS. The project is supported by a $100 million grant from India and a $400 million line of credit. According to an official press release, the GMCP project will be larger than the Sinamale Bridge, which was finished in 2018 and connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule with Chinese help.This is yet another recognition of our capabilities to construct mega projects to speed and scale and we are grateful to the Government of Maldives for reposing faith in us to execute this prestigious project,” said S Paramasivan, Managing Director, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. The GMCP project, which aims to connect four islands that account for almost half of the Maldivian population, will bring dynamism to Maldivian transport and commercial operations. The project is the product of bilateral talks between India and the Maldives, and it has been in the works since External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Male in September 2019. Male will be connected to the planned international port of Gulhifalhu and the Thilafushi industrial zone, which will be a prominent element of the project. Image Source Also read: Cabinet approves MoU between India and Maldives Also read: Kalpataru subsidiary JMC secures new orders in Maldives and India

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

Real Estate

29 Jul 2026

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Equipment

29 Jul 2026

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..