The Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has signed an agreement with Urban Construction Group (BUCG) to build a monorail connecting Male’-Funadhoo-Hulhule’. The agreement was signed by MACL’s Managing Director and CEO Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, and BUCG’s General Manager Lu Wei.
The project is funded by the UAE’s International Free Zone Authority (IFZA).
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had previously mentioned plans to create a Special Economic and Financial Service Zone in Funadhoo, with a monorail connecting Male’ and Hulhule’ to the island. Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed officially announced these initiatives on May 24 this year.
The project is aligned with the ongoing development of Velana International Airport (VIA). While the second phase of the VIA development project is now nearing completion, earlier this year, on January 4, President Dr. Muizzu inaugurated the third phase of the airport’s development. The third phase aims to cater to 25 million passengers annually and 4,000 passengers per hour, while the project will also expand the domestic terminal to an area of 35,000 sqm and increase the number of passengers at the domestic terminal from 300 to 2,000. Eight gates will also be installed at the domestic airport to serve passengers.
