President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said the development of B. Thulhaadhoo airport would be awarded to a contractor over the next couple of weeks.
President Solih is visiting Baa atoll to campaign for the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) 's presidential primary, in which he would go head to head with Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
Speaking at a rally held on Tulhaadhoo on Monday, President Solih said the airport would be built in Thulhaadhoo shortly.
"I assure you that we will hopefully be able to hand over [the project] to contractors in the next two or three weeks," he said.
The President also said that the government aims to complete the dredging of the land required for the construction of the airport and start construction by the middle of this year. The aim is to have the Thulhaadhoo airport operational by the end of this year, he said.
In addition to Thulhaadhoo, the government will be developing airports in R. Alifushi, HDh. Makunudhoo, Sh. Bilehfahi, M. Muli, F. Magoodhoo, Th. Vilifushi, and an island in Raa atoll. The development of airports in Magoodhoo and Alifushi has already been contracted to the state-owned Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC).
