Thilamalé Bridge
Thilamalé Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 4°10′16″N 73°28′47″E / 4.17111°N 73.47972°E |
| Crosses | Malé, Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi |
| Locale | Maldives |
| Official name | Greater Malé Connectivity Project |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 6.74 km |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Afcons Infrastructure |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Thilamalé Bridge | |
The Thilamalé Bridge, also known as the Malé-Thilafushi Bridge and more formally known as the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), is a road project currently under construction that aims to link the Maldivian capital Malé with the islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi. This project has been said to be "the largest-ever infrastructure project in the Maldives." Once completed the total length of the project would be 6.74 km, of which 3.6 km would be bridges or viaducts over water.[1] Before this, the largest connectivity project in the Maldives was the 1.4 km Sinamalé Bridge connecting Malé to the Maldives airport in Hulhulé island, and to the Hulhumale island.
The project is the result of bilateral consultation between India and the Maldives and was first proposed during the visit of India's External Affairs Minister to Malé in September 2019. As of July 2026, construction is 76% complete, and was projected to be completed by September 2026,[2] however by March 2026 it was announced that progress was slower than expected, in part due to challenges to legal challenges over the budget, and the bridge is now expected to be completed by 2027.[3]
Need for the bridge
Malé is the capital of Maldives, located on the island of the same name measuring 8.3 square kilometres, and in which nearly 40% of the national population lives. Malé is one of the most densely populated cities globally.[4] Malé has often been described as an overcrowded island which has little expanse for the city to expand.[5]
This pushed the current government in the Maldives to consider decentralization, manifesting in the growth of other inhabited islands and furnishing them with civic amenities like hospitals and other institutions in an attempt to incentivize people to relocate to other islands, reducing the burden of Malé. With this bridge, connectivity and transportation to the capital city would also improve, opening up an alternative transport route, which has been a persistent problem for the country's people.
Construction plans
The plan proposes the construction of three navigation bridges of 140 m main span across the deep channel between each island, 1.41 km of marine viaduct in deep water, 2.32 km marine viaduct in shallow water or on land, and 2.96 km of at-grade roads.
While the land interchanges at Malé and Villingili will be signalised junctions, the ones at the Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi will be roundabouts.[6]
Finances
Following a five-year grace period, the interest rate is 1.75% and the Maldives has to return it through a 20-year time. In the $500 million, $100 million is on grant, while $400 million is on Line of Credit by the EXIM Bank.[7]
Chinese debt-trap allegations
When the deal was first declared, former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, had referred to China's debt-trap loans to the former Yameen administration in a tweet: "The super low cost development assistance announced by @DrSJaishankar today is exactly what Maldives needs. Real help from a friend, to help us develop critical infrastructure. Rather than eye-wateringly costly financial loans that leaves the country mired in debt. @PMOIndia."[8][9]
There is also a conflict about the amount of debt Maldives owes to China. Nasheed states that the island nation has $3.4 billion debt to China, meanwhile the Chinese ambassador to the country says that it is just $1.4 billion. Either of them are a huge sum of money for a country whose yearly GDP is only $4.9 billion.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ "Thilamale bridge crane collapses". Atoll Times. 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
- ↑ Midhath, Masha (27 March 2025). "52% of the Thilamalé bridge project completed". Ras. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
- ↑ Shaleen, Aishath (22 January 2026). "Thilamalé bridge completion delayed, expected to finish by 2027". MMTV. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
- ↑ Riedel, Bruce. "Maldives: A crisis in paradise". Brookings Institution. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ Simlai, Sanjana (6 September 2021). "GMCP: How profitable is the Greater Male Connectivity Project for India?". Inventiva. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ↑ "India, Maldives to sign pact on Greater Male Connectivity Project". Indian Express. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ↑ Mohan, Geeta (26 August 2021). "India signs pact with Maldives for $500 million Greater Male Connectivity Project". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ↑ Hussain, Fathimath Aruma (13 August 2020). "Nasheed: India's assistance genuine, different from loans that leave nation mired in debt". Sun. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ↑ Nasheed, Mohamed [@MohamedNasheed] (13 August 2020). "The super low cost development assistance announced by @DrSJaishankar today is exactly what Maldives needs. Genuine help from a friend, to help us build critical infrastructure. Rather than eye-wateringly expensive commercial loans that leaves the nation mired in debt. @PMOIndia" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Chinese debt casts shadow over Maldives' economy". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.