President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that Malé and Ras Malé will be connected via an underwater tunnel. He made the remarks while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the Malé City Council’s newly elected Mayor and councilors held Monday night at Dharubaaruge.
The President detailed that the underwater tunnel connecting Malé and Ras Malé would entail a railway on which tourists can observe the underwater beauty, adding that this new infrastructure project would contribute immensely to the tourism industry. The President stated that the administration had already begun working on the feasibility studies for the project and that it would seek potential developers with the technical capacity to build the tunnel.
"This will become the world's first underwater tunnel of its kind," he said.
The President additionally spoke on the developmental prospects of Malé City. In this regard, he added that the ongoing development projects and the completion of the Ras Malé development project would satisfy all housing needs of the city within the five-year term. He stated that the redevelopment of Malé City’s roads and the allocation of parking areas would alleviate the emanating challenges within the same period.
The new administration launched its ambitious Ras Malé project on December 18, under which Fushi Dhiggaru Falhu will be developed as a modern mega city. A total of 1150 hectares of land will be dredged by Sri Lanka's Capital Marine and Civil Construction Company (CMCC) in exchange for the long-term lease of 70 hectares of land from Hulhumale Phase II and Rasmale', with 10 hectares from Hulhumale and 60 from Rasmale'. The project will be implemented without reliance on the state budget.
A drawing of an underwater tunnel
