Greater Male Connectivity Project: India, Maldives sign pact for largest-ever infrastructure project

Aug 26, 2021, 17:28 IST

Greater Male Connectivity Project will involve the construction of a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link that will connect Maldives capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

Greater Male Connectivity Project
Greater Male Connectivity Project

India and Maldives on August 26, 2021 signed a pact for the largest-ever infrastructure project, Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).

The project will be funded under the Indian Grant and Line of Credit and will commence soon. A contract for the same was signed between AFCONS (Mumbai-based construction and engineering company) and the Maldives government. 

The signing ceremony was attended by the foreign secretary of India, Harsh Shringla, Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Sunjay Sudhir and four Maldivian ministers.

Significance

The Greater Malé Connectivity Project(GMCP) is one of India's biggest new development projects in the Maldives. It is also the biggest infrastructure project in the Maldives overall. The project is being considered as the economic lifeline for the people of Maldives and is expected to provide a major boost to the Maldivian economy.

The Indian High Commissioner to Maldives said that the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP) is concrete proof that India is a robust development partner of the Maldives in addition to being the first responder in times of any emergency in the Maldives.

GMCP biggest Infrastructure project in Maldives 

The Greater Malé Connectivity Project is expected to be even bigger than the 1.4 km-long Sinamalé Bridge, which was built under Chinese assistance that connected Male to the Maldives airport in Hulhule island and to the Hulumalhe island.

Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP)

•Greater Male Connectivity Project will involve the construction of a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link that will connect capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

•The project will be funded by an Indian grant of $100 m and a Line of Credit worth $400 m.

•Greater Malé Connectivity Project will comprise three navigation bridges of 140 m main span across the deep channel between each island:

-1.41 km of the marine viaduct in deep water

-2.32 km marine viaduct in shallow water or on land

-2.96 km of at-grade roads

The project will use solar power for lighting purposes in a push for use of renewable energy.

Background 

The project has been undertaken upon the request of Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and foreign minister Abdulla Shahid during Union external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar's visit to the Maldives in September 2019.

Sangeeta Nair is a news professional with 6+ years of experience in news, education, lifestyle, research and videos. She has a bachelors in History and Master in Mass Communication. At jagranjosh.com, she writes on Current Affairs. She can be reached at sangeeta.nair@jagrannewmedia.com.
... Read More
Get here latest daily, weekly and monthly Current Affairs and GK in English and Hindi for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, Defence and exams. Download Jagran Josh Current Affairs App.

Take Weekly Tests on app for exam prep and compete with others. Download Current Affairs and GK app

AndroidIOS

Trending

Latest Education News