The Government has awarded a contract to Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) to develop the harbour in Gaafu Alifu Dhevvadhoo.

The contract, valued at MVR 103.09 million, was signed on Wednesday by Hassan Rasheed, Minister of State for Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, on behalf of the Government. Ahmed Shareef Abdul Rahman Yoosuf, Deputy Managing Director of MTCC, signed on behalf of the company.

The scope of the harbour development project includes 60,672 cubic metres of dredging, 95,194 cubic metres of land reclamation, a 29-metre breakwater, a 407-metre quay wall, 1,256 metres of revetment, a 20-metre long and 2-metre wide bridge, and 1,980 metres of pavement works. The project is expected to be completed within 630 days.

Dhevvadhoo, with a population of around 1,400, is a fishing island with a dozen active fishing vessels registered. The current harbour faces significant space constraints, making it difficult to accommodate fishing boats, cargo vessels, and passenger traffic simultaneously.

In addition to the harbour project, MTCC is currently carrying out other works on the island, including the completion of gutter installations, paving, and fencing at the Dhevvadhoo Football Ground.