The suspended airport development project on Magoodhoo Island in Faafu Atoll has resumed, Magoodhoo Island Council President Abdulla Waheed has confirmed. The project, which was nearing completion, was halted by the under the Mohamed Muizzu administration in the run-up to the parliamentary elections held in April.
The airport development initiative was contracted to the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), with the management and operation of the airport assigned to Regional Airports Company Ltd. (RACL). However, the Muizzu administration suspended the Magoodhoo airport development work after a decision to establish a new airport on Nilandhoo Island, which lies near Magoodhoo.
Political observers suggest that President Muizzu’s decision was possibly motivated by personal interests aimed at influencing the election results. President Muizzu’s sister, Fathimath Sauda, won the Nilandhoo seat in the parliamentary elections.
The suspension of the Magoodhoo airport project sparked discontent among residents, leading to anti-government demonstrations. Despite the project’s progress, including the near completion of the fire terminal building and structural work on the passenger terminal, the decision to halt construction raised concerns.
Council President Waheed confirmed to local media that work has now resumed, with the current focus on laying the runway’s asphalt layer. The project, initiated by the previous administration under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, was contracted to MTCC with a budget of MVR 231 million and an original completion deadline of April 2024.
However, President Muizzu’s suspension has disrupted the project’s timeline. The contract with MTCC was signed in October 2022, and the development includes a 1,500-metre runway, a passenger terminal, a control tower, a fire station, and other essential facilities.