Construction on the Magoodhoo Airport in Faafu Atoll has resumed following a lengthy pause, according to Magoodhoo Island Council President Abdulla Waheed. The project, which is under the purview of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), is currently focusing on completing the unfinished section of the airport runway.
The development of Magoodhoo Airport was abruptly suspended in March, coinciding with the parliamentary elections. The government did not provide a reason for the suspension, leading to protests from local residents. The cessation of construction sparked a series of nightly demonstrations on the island, with residents expressing their frustration over the lack of communication from the government and the impact on airport personnel who had been hired and subsequently left idle.
The Magoodhoo Airport, with a projected cost of MVR 252 million, is one of the most expensive domestic airports ever constructed in the Maldives. The airport features an 1,800-metre runway capable of accommodating private jets, along with facilities such as a jet parking area, a fuel farm, a VIP lounge, and a city hotel.
Earlier this year, island council officials voiced their concerns to the President’s Office through formal channels but received no response for several months. Allegations were made suggesting that the halt in construction might have been politically motivated, with claims that the government was prioritising the development of an airport in nearby Nilandhoo as a favour to the President’s sister, Fathimath Sauda, who was contesting the parliamentary elections in the Nilandhoo constituency.
In response to the protests, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, the Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, stated that MTCC had not received any directives from the government to halt the project. He suggested that any delays might be due to internal issues within MTCC, rather than direct government orders.
Despite these assurances, the protests continued, with residents committing to nightly demonstrations until construction resumed or a satisfactory response was received from the government. The proximity of Magoodhoo to Nilandhoo, a mere five minutes by speedboat or 20-25 minutes by ferry, added to the residents’ frustrations as they observed the expedited progress on the Nilandhoo airport.
Meanwhile, MTCC has been awarded a contract to undertake land reclamation for the Nilandhoo airport, as part of the government’s initiative to ensure that every residential island, resort, and industrial area in the Maldives is within a 30-minute radius of a domestic airport. This project involves reclaiming 42.6 hectares of land and installing substantial rock and geobag revetments.
As work resumes on Magoodhoo Airport, residents remain hopeful that the project will progress without further interruptions, bringing much-needed infrastructure and economic opportunities to their island. The government’s renewed focus on completing the airport is seen as a positive step towards addressing the grievances of the Magoodhoo community and fulfilling its commitment to regional development.
