Government on Tuesday awarded the project to widen and modernise the north side of the outer ring road of the capital Male’ to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Limited (MTCC).
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had announced that the road area surrounding the Izzuddin Jetty will be widened and developed to a modern standard this year during the opening ceremony of the newly redesigned and redeveloped Izzuddin Jetty on 27 February.
The project worth USD9.4 million was officially awarded to MTCC to be completed within 455 days during a ceremony on Wednesday.
The project will develop an 830 metre area from the MTCC ferry terminal to the local market. The project will include the widening of the road by extending the key wall, installation of drainage systems, sidewalks, road markings and sign boards.
The contract was signed by the Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, Dr Abdulla Muthalib with MTCC Managing Director DCP (Retd) Ahmed Saudy.
Speaking after signing the contract, Minister Dr Muthalib acknowledged that the area was one of the busiest in Male’ and assured that the project will be carried out in a way to avoid traffic congestion.
"The road will be developed and widened to facilitate traffic in the area. Though this project while underway will cause some difficulties to the public, it can only be done by working together,” he said.
During the ceremony, Saudy said MTCC will put in every effort to complete the project well before the deadline given the busy nature of the area that would be under development.
The government has committed to redeveloping all the roads of Male’ and Vilimale’ during the current term. While the road development project will be carried out as a grant aid from the Chinese government, the feasibility study for the project is currently ongoing.
However, the area between the MTCC Henveiru Ferry Terminal and the Local Market is not part of the road development initiative under Chinese grant assistance which has prompted the initiation of the project under State funds.