President Office appointed Minister Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has stated the survey team dispatched by the Chinese government to evaulate the feasibility of constructing a bridge consists of highly expert individuals of the field.
Minister said this at a press conference held at President’s Office today to give disclosure on the proceedings of the bridge construction to the media، and also noted that the team from China consists of experts of relevant field، and particularly he pointed out the team have an expert in geology.
Apart from this the team consists of adequate and qualified engineers as well as electricians.
The survey team members from China. Photo: Ash-haad Abdullah
“They (survey team) is conducting a very thorough research on the matter as they are meeting up various government officials to discuss on the subject and they are collecting data on the sea traffic we have in the area in question as well as information on our living standards that would be helpful in their evaluation” Mundhu stated.
Mundhu added that it would take approximately 40 days for the survey team to conclude their report on the feasibility study of building a bridge between Male’ and Hulhule’ and thus government is more than ready to aid the team with any necessities. Plus the estimated cost for the project would be revealed only after the survey report has been completed.
Deputy Ambassador of China Liu Xiang stated that the bridge construction cost would be granted by the Chinese government on the accounts if the project proves to be feasible، while briefing the press at President’s Office today.
With regards to this، Mundhu further added that projects would not be carried out anywhere in the world without conducting a feasibility study prior to the project and it is vital in order to identify the impact it would have economically as well as environmentally، and repeated the notion that the cost for the project would be revealed only after the survey is concluded.
“After the survey we would know how much Chinese government would allocate as free funding for the project” Minister said.
Tourism Minister and Co-chair of Economic Council Ahmed Adheeb second the notion of conducting a feasibility study and highlighted the importance of conducting one.
Adheeb noted that Chinese government would be funding for the project as a free aid on the major portion and the remaining costs would be covered under a loan through Exim Bank. Much Mundhu، Adheeb had also noted that the total expense of the project would be revealed once the survey has been completed.
The bridge construction survey to be carried out at Maldives will go through five specific phases، and these are;
1. First stage – Research and preliminary feasibility study
2. Second stage – Feasibility study of the project
3. Third stage – Bridge architecture and inspection agreement
4. Fourth stage – Discussion of financial aid that would be granted by China Government for the project. And،
5. Fifth stage – Agreement and implementation of the project