The project contractor, Afcons Infrastructure, has scheduled the joining of the final bridge deck segment connecting Malé and Vilimalé under the Thilamalé Bridge project today.

Contracted to India's Afcons and launched in 2022, the initiative stands as the largest infrastructure development project currently underway in the Greater Malé region.

Carried out under the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), which connects Malé, Vilimalé, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi, today’s operation marks a major milestone with the complete linking of the bridge's superstructure between Malé and Vilimalé, establishing a direct overland road connection between the two islands.

Speaking on the President’s Office podcast "The Pulse" last Friday, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that when the current administration took office, physical progress on the project was practically at zero. He noted that although the previous administration had initiated the project, no major structural works, such as erecting bridge pillars between Malé and Vilimalé, had been completed.

The President stated that because this is a joint initiative with the Government of India, bilateral cooperation has enabled work to accelerate significantly. With the Malé–Vilimalé segment now nearly fully connected, physical works are also advancing to bridge Vilimalé to Gulhifalhu, and Gulhifalhu to Thilafushi, he added.

Encompassing a total length of 6.7 kilometers of connectivity, construction on the link roadways and highway structures connecting Malé, Vilimalé, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi is progressing at a fast pace.

According to details shared by the Ministry of Housing last month, 74.90 percent of the overall bridge project has been completed. The ongoing focus is largely on installing deck segments that connect the piers. Out of the 1,222 total segments required for the bridge deck, 90.4 percent have been precast, with 72.9 percent already installed.

The ministry noted that aside from the central connecting deck segments, work across all other areas is proceeding swiftly, alongside the development of approach roads in Gulhifalhu and revetment works in Thilafushi.

Despite previous delays caused by various factors, the government aims to complete the entire project by the end of next year. The government estimates the mega-project will cost a total of USD 500 million (over MVR 7 billion), financed through a USD 100 million grant and a USD 400 million Line of Credit from the Government of India.