Thilamalé Bridge Reaches Over 50% Completion as India-Funded Mega Project Advances

The Thilamalé Bridge, a 6.7-kilometre structure connecting Malé to Vilimalé and onward to the industrial island of Thilafushi, has surpassed the 50% completion milestone according to the latest progress report from contractor AFCONS Infrastructure. The project, financed through a $500 million line of credit from the Export-Import Bank of India, is currently the largest infrastructure undertaking in Maldivian history.

Construction crews have completed the piling and substructure work for 78% of the bridge's span, with the superstructure — including the pre-stressed concrete deck segments — now being erected at a rate of approximately 120 metres per week. The project has mobilised over 2,400 workers and 45 pieces of heavy marine equipment, making it one of the most complex engineering operations ever attempted in the Maldivian archipelago.

The bridge is designed to carry four lanes of vehicle traffic, a dedicated bus rapid transit corridor, and pedestrian and cycling paths. Upon completion, it will reduce the commute between Malé and Thilafushi from a 45-minute ferry journey to a 15-minute drive, fundamentally reshaping the economic geography of the Greater Malé region. The government projects that the bridge will unlock over 200 hectares of developable land on Thilafushi and Gulhifalhu for industrial and residential use.

The project has consumed over MVR 792 million in planned investments to date, with the Indian government disbursing funds in tranches tied to construction milestones. Completion remains on track for late 2026, though engineers have flagged potential delays related to monsoon-season wave conditions that restrict marine construction activities between May and September. The bridge's opening is expected to be a centrepiece of President Muizzu's infrastructure legacy ahead of the 2028 election.