Maldives inks pact with AFCONS for Greater Male Connectivity Project

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