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The Thilamalé Bridge, also known as the Malé-Thilafushi Bridge and more formally known as the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), is a road project currently under construction that aims to link capital Malé with the islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi in the Maldives. This project has been said to be "the largest-ever infrastructure project in the Maldives." Once completed the total length of the project would be 6.74 km, of which 3.6 km would be bridges or viaducts over water. Before this, the largest connectivity project in the Maldives was the 1.4 km Chinese-funded bridge connecting Malé to the Maldives airport in Hulhule island, and to the Hulhumale island.

The project is the result of bilateral consultation between India and the Maldives and was first proposed during the visit of India's External Affairs Minister to Malé in September 2019. As of September 2024, construction is 43% complete, with the portion from Malé to Gulhifalhu scheduled to be completed by February 2026 and the final link to Thilafushi by September 2026.

Need for the bridge

Malé is the capital of Maldives and nearly 40% of its population lives on the Malé island of 8.30 square kilometer. According to University of Pennsylvania, Malé is one of the most densely populated cities globally. Malé has often been described as an overcrowded island which has little expanse for the city to expand.

This pushed the current government in the Maldives to consider decentralization. And the growth of other inhabited islands by furnishing them with civic amenities like hospitals and other institutions and incentivizing people to relocate to other islands, reducing the burden of Malé. With this bridge, connectivity and transportation to the capital city would also improve, opening up an alternative transport route, which has been a persistent problem for the country's people.

Construction plans

The plan proposes the construction of three navigation bridges of 140 m main span across the deep channel between each island, 1.41 km of marine viaduct in deep water, 2.32 km marine viaduct in shallow water or on land, and 2.96 km of at-grade roads.

While the land interchanges at Malé and Villingili will be signalised junctions, the ones at the Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi will be roundabouts.

Finances

Following a five-year grace period, the interest rate is 1.75% and the Maldives has to return it through a 20-year time. In the $500 million, $100 million is on grant, while $400 million is on Line of Credit by the EXIM Bank.

Chinese Debt-Trap Allegations

When the deal was first declared, former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, had referred to China's debt-trap loans to the former Yameen administration in a tweet: "The super low cost development assistance announced by @DrSJaishankar today is exactly what Maldives needs. Real help from a friend, to help us develop critical infrastructure. Rather than eye-wateringly costly financial loans that leaves the country mired in debt. @PMOIndia."

There is also a conflict about the amount of debt Maldives owes to China. Nasheed states that the island nation has $3.4 billion debt to China, meanwhile the Chinese ambassador to the country says that it is just $1.4 billion. Either of them are a huge sum of money for a country whose yearly GDP is only $4.9 billion.

See also

• India–Maldives relations
• AFCONS
• Sinamalé Bridge

References

1. "Thilamale bridge crane collapses". Atoll Times. 5 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023.
2. Mohamed, Mariyath (11 September 2024). "Minister Muththalib in India for Thilamale' Bridge Project Monitoring Committee meeting". The Edition. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
3. Simlai, Sanjana (6 September 2021). "GMCP: How profitable is the Greater Male Connectivity Project for India?". Inventiva. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
4. "India, Maldives to sign pact on Greater Male Connectivity Project". Indian Express. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
5. Mohan, Geeta (26 August 2021). "India signs pact with Maldives for $500 million Greater Male Connectivity Project". India Today. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
6. Hussain, Fathimath Aruma (13 August 2020). "Nasheed: India's assistance genuine, different from loans that leave nation mired in debt". Sun. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
7. Nasheed, Mohamed (13 August 2020). "The super low cost development assistance announced by @DrSJaishankar today is exactly what Maldives needs. Genuine help from a friend, to help us build critical infrastructure. Rather than eye-wateringly expensive commercial loans that leaves the nation mired in debt. @PMOIndia" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2023 – via Twitter.
8. "Chinese debt casts shadow over Maldives' economy". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 2022-03-27.

• Maldive Islands
• Bridges in the Maldives
• Bridges under construction
• India–Maldives relations