India signs pact with Maldives for Greater Male Connectivity Project
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
World Affairs
- Published
28th Aug, 2021
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Context
In a positive development, India and Maldives have signed a pact for the $500 million Greater Male Connectivity Project.
About the Project
- GMCP will include the construction of a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link which will connect the capital city Male with adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
- Funding: This project is funded under a grant of USD 100 million and a Line of Credit of USD 400 million from India.
- This will be the largest infrastructure project in the Maldives.
- Signing authority: The contract for the implementation of the project was signed between the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the Maldives and Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.
Key-points
- The largest connectivity project so far is the Sinamale Bridge (1.4 km) built under Chinese assistance connecting Male with Hulhule’ and Hulhumalé. It was completed in 2018.
- India also started an Air Travel Bubble with the Maldives, the first in South Asia, in August 2020, which has not only made India the largest source of tourists but also provided a strong economic impetus to the Maldivian economy.
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