Maldives Prez Mohamed Muizzu, Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramanian and officials walk the newly linked Malé–Vilimalé section of the India-funded Thilamalé Bridge.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday inspected the newly connected Malé–Vilimalé section of the Greater Malé Connectivity Project and thanked India for its support, calling the bridge a symbol of enduring ties between the two countries.
President walks newly linked stretch with Indian envoy
Accompanied by Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramanian and senior officials from contractor Afcons, Muizzu walked the newly linked section of the 6.74-km Thilamalé Bridge on 30 August, National Engineers Day. Workers had placed the final deck segment connecting Malé and Vilimalé (Villingili) the previous week, establishing the first physical link between the two islands.
“This is a highly significant infrastructure project that stands as a symbol of the strong and enduring friendship between the Maldives and India,” Muizzu told reporters at the site, according to WION. He thanked India and the High Commissioner “for the importance they have accorded to this project and for their continued commitment to strengthening the close and longstanding ties between our two countries.”
He said teams had “reached an important milestone, having established a physical connection between the two islands.” If the current pace is maintained, he added, “I am hopeful that the project can be completed within a maximum of one year.” Officials have previously pointed to a 2027 finish date. The connected stretch is not yet open to the public pending finishing works.
Foreign minister praises India’s commitment
Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam accompanied the president. She expressed appreciation to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian government for their “unwavering commitment” to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and called the project a flagship of Maldives-India cooperation, IANS reported.
India funds Maldives’ largest infrastructure project
The $500 million project is financed by a $100 million grant and a $400 million line of credit from India. Afcons Infrastructure is the contractor. The network of bridges, viaducts and roads will connect Malé with Vilimalé, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi, areas that together hold a large share of the population and industrial activity.
More than 75 per cent of the work is reported complete following the Malé–Vilimalé milestone. Remaining links toward Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi are still under construction.
From earlier tensions to closer coordination
The project was proposed during a 2019 visit by India’s External Affairs Minister and the contract was awarded in August 2021. Muizzu was elected in 2023 after a campaign that included calls for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating aviation platforms gifted by India. Those personnel left by May 2024 and were replaced by civilian technicians.
Ties later improved through high-level visits, debt support, additional development projects and closer coordination on the bridge.
Indian High Commissioner: One of India’s biggest overseas projects
High Commissioner Balasubramanian described the visit as a chance “to walk on this bridge when the first part of it has been completed.” He said India had worked closely with Malé “to ensure that this [is] one of the most comprehensive large scale infrastructure development that India has undertaken outside the borders of India.”
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