The government is accelerating the completion of a long-delayed terminal at Velana International Airport, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu actively leading efforts to expedite the project and ensure that all essential financial and logistical support is secured, according to Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). He said the administration remains committed to clearing all obstacles to progress by facilitating the timely provision of critical resources.
The terminal, initially scheduled to open in October, is now expected to be inaugurated on 26 July, Maldives' Independence Day. That date, officials note, has taken on increased significance as the government intensifies its focus on revitalising the national economy.
Speaking at a recent media networking event, Shareef said President Muizzu has worked "tirelessly" to drive the initiative forward. The project, Shareef noted, was only 54 percent complete at the time the current administration assumed office, despite having spanned eight years; since then, the pace of development has accelerated noticeably.
"When the government took over, the work was progressing at a slow pace," Shareef said. "It is now proceeding at a rapid pace." From the beginning of his term, the president, Shareef noted, underscored the importance of completing the terminal as a pillar of economic recovery.
"To stimulate economic growth, the completion of the terminal is regarded by the president as an imperative task, with no alternative course of action," Shareef asserted. He noted that MACL, contractors, and affiliated agencies are working in close alignment to meet the revised timeline. President Muizzu has remained personally engaged with the undertaking, Shareef said, visiting the site, reviewing progress with contractors, and safeguarding uninterrupted financial support for the work underway.
The new facility will span 78,000 square metres and is designed to handle up to seven million passengers each year, representing a substantial increase from the current terminal's annual capacity of 1.5 million. Shareef pointed out that during the peak travel season this year, the airport experienced 23,000 passenger movements in a single day, encompassing arrivals and departures.
He expressed confidence that these pressures would ease with the new terminal in operation. In preparation, teams are already implementing critical measures, including personnel training, infrastructure enhancements, and utility integration across the airport site, Shareef added. Upon inauguration, the terminal is expected to deliver state-of-the-art services and position Velana International Airport as a leading aviation gateway in the region.