Addu Airport Project Road at Risk Amid Ongoing Site Dispute

Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib has said that a road planned under the Gan Airport development project in Addu City may be removed from the current scope of works due to delays in vacating a building located along its proposed route.

According to the Ministry, the road’s exclusion has been requested to avoid further delays and the possibility of incurring compensation claims from the contractor.

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The issue arises from a long-standing dispute over a building that has remained occupied for more than two years. The property is believed to be in use by Equator Village in Gan, although it is owned by the Addu International Airport Company. The land has not been transferred to the contractor as the occupant has refused to vacate the premises.

Dr Muththalib acknowledged the concerns of Addu residents regarding the potential removal of the road from the development. He stated that if the site is not cleared by 17 April, the road will no longer be included in the current phase of the airport project.

Despite this, the Minister assured that the road would still be constructed at a later stage as a separate project once the land is made available.

The Addu City Council has issued a statement criticising the decision, describing it as unilateral and inconsistent with the principles of decentralisation. The Council expressed concern that a key component of the project was excluded without any consultation with either the Council or the Addu International Airport Company. It argued that the move undermines the democratic rights of the southern population. The airport development is being carried out by India’s Renaatus Company.