Wednesday
18th Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Health Ministry
Multi-million dollar construction project contracted to Indian company with zero experience
Event held to sign the agreement
An MVR 882 million (US$ 57.1 million) project to construct four hospitals in the Maldives has been handed over to an Indian company.
The project would see hospitals created in HA Dhihdhoo, R Alifushi, Dh Kudahuvadhoo, and GA Vilingili.
Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) is tasked with the project. The agreement was signed by State Minister at Ministry of Health, Ahmed Adil and TCIL Executive Director Atul Kumar Jain.
TCIL, a prime engineering and consultancy company, is a wholly owned Government of India Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), Ministry of Communications. The company is a consultant in telecommunications services and has zero expertise in construction.
There was no bidding for the project. Ministry of Health also did not provide a date by which the hospitals are to be finished.
The whole project is financed by a loan from India’s Exim Bank.
Several of heavy infrastructure projects have been handed over to Indian companies, irrespective of whether the contractor has experience in handling such projects.