Maafinolhu Airport Project moved to Hoarafushi


Maldives
PUBLISHED March 20, 2019

 The new Maldivian administration has made the choice to change the location of the latest domestic airport from H.A.Atoll from Maafinolhu, to Hoarafushi. The projects contractor, Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) announced the decision made by the government during a press conference on the 14th of March 2019.

CEO of MTCC, Hassan Shah, speaking at the conference said that the decision was based on the current administrations policy, to avoid harming the environment of uninhabited islands such as Maafinolhu with major infrastructure projects such as an airport.

Land reclamation for the Maafinolhu Airport Project was initiated in the month of July, 2018. But the Head of Projects at MTCC, Ahmed Latheef reports the company did not begin any practice work on the island.

"The former administration, with the intention of reclaiming land at Maafinolhu, took Maha Jarraf and other accessories to the island. But no practical work was initiated," said Latheef.

MTCCs CEO Shah stated that the airport will be developed in Hoarafushi instead.

"Instead of that, since Hoarafushi is already rich in land, because the land already exists, we plan on reclaiming land to enlarge the island and develop the airport," quoted Shah.

Shah said that the company is currently in negotiations with the government regarding the Hoarafushi Airport Project, and hoped to be awarded the projects contract in the coming days.

"We are engaged in discussions with the Planning Ministry through Regional Airports."

MTCC is currently developing three other regional airports; Kulhudhuffushi Airport, Funadhoo Airport, and Maavaarulu Airport.

Comments

Please login to Comment


NEWS ARCHIVE