Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdullah Muththalib has announced that the Thilamalé Bridge project is progressing slower than expected and will now be completed by 2027, instead of the earlier estimate of 2026.

Speaking on State media, the Minister explained that the project, financed under a USD 400 million line of credit from Exim Bank of India and a USD 100 million grant from the government of India, has faced multiple challenges. Among them was a 30-month contract extension granted by the previous administration without additional payment, which the contractor, Afcons of India, claims has resulted in an extra USD 100 million in costs.

Dr Muththalib stressed that the Government should not be held responsible for delays caused by the contractor’s poor performance. He noted that efforts are underway with the Indian government to accelerate progress, particularly on the section connecting Vilimale and Malé, which is expected to be linked by the end of this year.

While partial connections are being made, the Minister emphasised that the entire bridge will not be completed by the end of 2026 as previously projected. At the current pace, full completion is expected in 2027.

The USD 500 million Thilamalé Bridge is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Maldives, designed to improve connectivity across the Greater Malé region.