By Addu City’s much-anticipated Hankede Bridge will be officially opened to the public on Saturday, the Ministry of Construction has announced.
In a statement on social media, the ministry confirmed that the Detua Link Road, developed under India’s Exim Bank Line of Credit, will also be made accessible on the same day.
The announcement comes amid mounting concerns over delays in the project. Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar had recently voiced his frustration, stating that there was no justification for postponing the opening, as all required construction work had already been completed by the contractor.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Mayor Nizar criticized the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure for the delay, urging them to take responsibility for opening the bridge and completing other essential works, including the rebuilding of the dilapidated link road and the repair of the temporary sand road in Hankede. He also highlighted the lack of response from the authorities despite repeated appeals to expedite the process.
The government had initially planned to open the bridge in July, but delays in coordination have pushed back the schedule.
The Indian Exim Bank’s Line of Credit facility was awarded to India’s Afcons in 2021, with a contract worth $77.6 million (MVR 1.1 billion) to develop water supply systems and roads across Addu.
With the bridge’s inauguration set for this weekend, residents of Addu City anticipate improved connectivity between Addu Gaukedi and Maradhoo, alleviating transport difficulties and boosting regional infrastructure development.