Addu International Airport (AIA) Pvt Ltd has initiated plans for court proceedings to acquire land from the Equator Village area to develop Addu Airport. 

In a statement, AIA clarified that the labor quarters and nearby buildings in the Equator Village, belong to the Addu International Airport, and transfer of these properties to another party in 2013 was a violation of the regulations. 

As part of the Addu Airport project, there are plans to develop a departure road and a parking area on the land within the Equator Village. These developments are intended to be carried out in a manner that will not interrupt the operations of the resort. 

However, if the land cannot be acquired, it will also hinder the construction of the sewerage and water systems, as well as the installation of electric cables for streetlights, which are planned under the Airport project. 

The statement also stated that they first did not lease the property to Kaimoo Travels and Hotel Services to run the hotels in the Equator Village. AIA has decided to refer the matter to its board to decide whether legal actions should be pursued. 

Some Government offices have also been vacated from the area, to acquire land needed for the project.

Earlier, the Minister of Construction, Housing, and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muththalib stated that if they cannot conclude this issue before the 17 of this month, the departure road construction will be removed from the project.