Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC)'s CEO Adam Azim and team met with the Secretariat of the HIthaadhoo Council on Tuesday and inspected the ongoing B. Hithaadhoo Harbour Breakwater and Quay Wall Construction Project.

Scope of work for the project includes 14,829cbm dredging and excavation work and installation of 1,760sqm harbour pavement, B. Hithaadhoo Shore Protection Project which includes 7,800cbm beach replenishment and 610m geobag revetment installation.

Azim said the project would be completed by October. MTCC was awarded the project on 8 November 2021. The project is valued at MVR 20 million, and field work commenced in May 2022.

The project has faced delays due to bad weather conditions and technical difficulties faced by the barges used by MTCC.

However, Azim said the rock boulders needed for the project will be delivered to the island next month.

"When we dredge here, we will bring the barge closer. It will take about a day. We intend to complete the project by October," Azim said.

Azim added that the remaining work of the harbour project is underway while the EIA of the area facing soil erosion is being prepared. The EIA will be completed by August, he said.

"The EIA phase is also about 3 to 4 months. After the completion of this harbour, we are planning to complete the beach protection work of this island at once," he said.

Azim said the two projects are expected to be completed by January next year.

MTCC was awarded the contract for the shore protection on 11 April 2022. The project, worth MVR 16.96 million, is to be completed within 180 days.