Gov’t Announces 45.82% Completion of Thilamale’ Bridge Project
The Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muthalib, announced that 45.82% of the Thilamale’ Bridge project has been completed.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, Dr Muthalib provided an update on various project milestones.
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The project’s progress includes:
- Piling of pillars: 79.5% complete
- Precast segments: 43.5% complete
- Pile caps: 67.8% complete
- Pier complex: 62.2% complete
Last November, Dr Muthalib had reported that the project faced significant delays, attributing these to the contractor, India’s Afcons Infrastructure Limited. The contractor had reportedly underestimated the complexities of constructing a bridge in deep-sea conditions, resulting in preparedness issues. Consequently, a supplementary agreement extended the project deadline by 30 months, a request made by Afcons without any amendments from the Maldivian government.
He highlighted new concerns regarding delays in critical work stages, specifically deep-sea piling. He noted that while there were no major delays, some key tasks were not advancing at the desired pace.
Afcons had cited rough seas and other weather-related challenges as contributing factors, though the Minister stated these explanations were not satisfactory to the government. He emphasised that no further extension would be granted, with the government continuing to engage with Afcons to express its concerns.
