India and Maldives signed a largest ever infrastructure project contract. Under The Greater Male Connectivity Project ( GMCP) Indian infrastructure Company AFCON will build a 6.74 km-long bridge connecting Male and nearby islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. AFCONS is known for its extra ordinary engineering projects that also include the Chenab Railway Bridge.
Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of the Maldives putting his remarks in the project said that “Delighted that the contract for the Greater Male Connectivity – Male to Thilafushi Link Project has been signed between the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and AFCONS Infrastructure Ltd. This is a defining moment in the development journey of the Maldives,” he also added that the project is “enduring tribute to the strong Maldives-India partnership”.
India will be granting 100 million dollars of grant and 400 million dollars of line of credit to the Maldives for the project.
In the official press release it is mentioned that the GMCP project will be bigger than the Sinamale Bridge built with the assistance of China that connects Male with Hulhumale and Hulhule and was completed in 2018.
In then official press release it is mentioned that “GMCP comprises three navigation bridges of 140 m main span across the deep channel between each island, 1.41 km of marine viaduct in deep water and 2.32 km of marine viaduct in shallow water or on land and 2.96 km of at-grade roads.”
