An agreement has been signed between the governments of India and Maldives for land reclamation, coastal protection, road development and flood control projects in southernmost Addu City.
The agreement for the Addu City Development Project was signed during India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jayashankar’s official visit to the Maldives. The project will be funded under a USD 800 million Line of Credit extended to the Maldives’ government from the Government of India through the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of India. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Maldives government by Director General of Planning and Housing MInistry, Shaana Farooq. The document was signed by Chief General Manager of EXIM Bank India, Shri Guarav Singh Bhandari on behalf of India.
A flood water receding system will be established in all islands across Addu city with the exception of Feydhoo. A 103 km water receding system will run across Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo under the Addu City Development Project.
While a flood water receding system has already been established in Feydhoo by the Maldives government, the system will be commissioned soon.
Asphalt will be laid over an area of 40 kilometer in Hithadhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo Feydhoo, Feydhoo, Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo. In addition to the roads on which asphalt will be laid, a Cement Stabilized Base (CBS) layer will be installed on an area of 60 km.
90 hectares of land will be reclaimed in Hithadhoo while 75 hectares of land will be reclaimed in Maradhoo Feydhoo under the reclamation section of the project. A further 38 hectares of land will be reclaimed from Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo.
