Previous Government Awarded HIA Development Project at Nearly Triple the Valuation: President

The previous government awarded the Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HIA) Development Project to an Indian company at a price nearly three times higher than the amount the work is valued at, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said.

He said this while addressing a meeting with the people of Hanimaadhoo today.

He said the government of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had awarded the international airport development project to JMC of India for US$136.6 million, which is a that does not meet the valuation of the works to be completed.

The President stated that previous government had awarded the airport project without considering the capacity required to serve a total of 8,000 tourist beds in the region. He added that the airport development was started without thinking, and the scale of the airport was much smaller than it should be.

He elaborated that another 700 meters would be added to the Hanimaadhoo airport runway. The President said that the development of Hanimaadhoo is linked to the development of the airport.