The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure has announced that 67.4 per cent of work on the Thilamalé Bridge has now been completed.

The update was shared through the Ministry’s official X account.

The USD 500 million bridge project is being constructed with the assistance of India’s Afcons, supported by USD 400 million under a line of credit from the Exim Bank of India and USD 100 million in grant assistance from the government of India. The project was commissioned on 16 September 2021 during the previous administration, although no physical structure had risen above sea level by the end of that term.

When the current Administration took office, 29 per cent of the bridge had been completed. The project agreement had been extended for an additional three years one day before the previous government left office.

Significant structural milestones have since been reached. The tallest precast component of the Thilamalé Bridge was completed on 3 April this year, and the bridge’s most complex phase, the piling works, was completed in July. A total of 263 piles were installed across 68 sea and land locations.

During President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s recent meeting with residents of Villimalé, Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr Abdulla Muththalib said discussions with India are ongoing to accelerate the remaining works. He reiterated that Villimalé will remain a non-motorised island even after the bridge opens, with a multi-storey parking facility planned to accommodate vehicles travelling via the bridge.

The Government aims to complete the Thilamalé Bridge by the end of 2026.