Thilamale’ Bridge Reaches 60% Completion as Foundation Phase Wraps Up

The transformative Thilamale’ Bridge project—linking the capital Male’ with Vilimale’, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi—has reached a major milestone, with more than 60% of the work now completed.

According to Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, the crucial and most technically demanding phase of piling work has officially concluded. In a post shared on social platform X (formerly Twitter), the minister confirmed that 263 foundation piles have been successfully installed at 68 sites both on land and at sea.

A Key Milestone for a Nation-Shaping Project

“The piling phase was the most challenging aspect of the entire construction process,” Dr. Muththalib stated, adding that the project has now achieved 60.84% overall completion.

The Thilamale’ Bridge, a flagship infrastructure development currently under construction by India’s Afcons Infrastructure, spans a total of 6.7 kilometers. Once completed, it will serve as a vital transportation artery within the Greater Male’ Region, significantly reducing travel time between the islands and supporting long-term economic growth and urban expansion.

World’s Tallest Precast Segment Installed

The project has also achieved a global engineering feat. In April, the world’s highest precast segment—built using the long line method—was installed on the bridge. These advanced segments are being manufactured locally at Gulhifalhu, showcasing the blend of global engineering excellence and Maldivian capacity-building.

According to the Indian High Commission in Maldives, these are the tallest precast bridge components of their kind ever produced using this method, marking a proud moment in the region's infrastructure journey.

Financing and International Collaboration

The Thilamale’ Bridge is one of the largest and most ambitious public infrastructure projects in the Maldives, with a total estimated cost of USD 500 million (MVR 7.7 billion). Funding includes a USD 400 million line of credit from India’s EXIM Bank and a USD 100 million grant from the Government of India.

This collaboration underlines the strong development partnership between Maldives and India, and reflects broader efforts to modernize Maldivian infrastructure while strengthening regional connectivity.

With the foundational piling work now behind them, engineers and contractors will focus on the superstructure and final phases of the bridge. While no exact completion date has been confirmed, momentum on the project continues to build—bringing the dream of seamless island connectivity closer to reality for thousands of Maldivians.