President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Monday said the government would invite all living former presidents and political leaders to witness the official unveiling of the landmark bridge connecting the capital to the airport island next year.
Speaking after inaugurating a new harbour in Baa Atoll Kendhoo island, president Yameen shared his intention to invite former presidents and political opponents over the intense criticism his government has faced over the bridge project.
The landmark project to build a over-water bridge that would connect the capital Male to the reclaimed suburb Hulhumale and the airport island is currently ongoing.
The bridge dubbed China-Maldives Friendship bridge is being financed with USD126 million in grant aid and a concessionary loan from China along with USD12.6 million from the state budget.
The over water Male-Hulhumale Bridge will stretch out to 1.39 kilometers in length and 20 meters in width.
"I shall invite all former presidents and opposition leaders to join me in opening the bridge next year. Then I will ask them if they see the bridge," president enthused.
Most of opposition leaders including former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed have echoed similar criticism of the mega project insisting that the significant figure could be better spent on more critical development and infrastructure.
However, president Yameen insisted that previous governments had harboured the idea of building the bridge which proved its importance to the country.
"For the people who are saying the money could be better spent elsewhere, I would say that they are hugely misinformed. Male and Hulhumale belong to everyone. The future of our young people is there. So everyone will benefit when we connect them via the bridge," president Yameen stressed.
