President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom pledged to link Hulhumeedhoo and Gan (Addu) during an election rally in Hulhumeedhoo. A news report said he was asked for this by a child from Addu using a drawing, which according to him, showed this is feasible.

ހިތަދު އާއި މީދޫ ވެސް ބްރިޖަކުން ގުޅާލާނަން: ރައީސް ޔާމީން

https://mihaaru.com/news/42277

Mohamed Muizzu announces he will build a bridge between Hulhumeedhoo and Hithadhoo during an election rally in Addu Hithadhoo.

– ބްރިޖް އެޅުންތަނާއި އަޅަން އުޅެ ނޭޅުނުތަން ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ފެނިއްޖެ: މުއިއްޒު

https://sun.mv/181112

https://edition.mv/features/31209

[photo: Mihaaru]

– News reports that the GoM had signed a contract with ‘The Arab Contractors – Osman Ahmed Osman & Co’

– ހިތަދޫ-ހުޅުމީދޫ ގުޅުވާލާ ރާއްޖޭގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު ބްރިޖް މަޝްރޫއުގައި ސޮއިކޮށްފި

https://mihaaru.com/news/131226

– Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar reported to have said that the most capable person to implement the bridge that would change Addu is President Muizzu

– The report said the GoM signed the contract with ‘The Arab Contractors – Osman Ahmed Osman & Co’ who will be producing the Preliminary Design and Survey, free of charge.

[this raises questions about the budgeted MVR 30m for a survey, and what designs and surveys are being done by the contractor free of charge]

– އައްޑޫ ބަދަލުކޮށްލާނެ ބްރިޖު އެޅޭނީ ރައީސް މުއިއްޒަށް: ނިޒާރު

https://mihaaru.com/news/131230

– a right to information (RTI) request was submitted to the Ministry of Construction & Infrastructure by a Hithadhoo resident, requesting for the following information about the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project:

a) summary of the technical proposal
b) sketches and drawings that have been completed
c) data from the mathematical survey
d) documentation about the project scope

– on 10 July 2024, the Ministry of Construction & Infrastructure replied to the RTI, stating the following :

– the MoU between the ministry and Arab Contractors to undertake the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project includes a non-disclosure clause

– as such, none of the requested information can be shared with the applicant as per section 22(b) of the RTI Act

– on appealing the ministry’s response to the Information Commissioner’s Officer (ICOM), a closed hearing between the ministry and ICOM was held on 24 July 2024 to review the MoU signed by the ministry and Arab Contractors

– on 6 August 2024, an open hearing was held, where the following decision was made by ICOM :

– as the technical proposal of the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project is being produced in phases, the ministry is to share the relevant information with the applicant on that basis within 5 working days

– it is clear from the clauses of the agreement that the requested information about the project drawings and mathematical survey are deemed to be the contractor’s ‘intellectual property’, hence may not be shared as per section 22(b) of the RTI Act

– following ICOMs decision, the ministry responded to the applicant on 15 August 2024, stating that:

– as the technical proposal for the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project is not completed, it is not possible to share a summary of the completed proposal, as requested

– that all information held by the ministry relevant to the project scoping had been shared with the applicant

– News report said that the Construction minister Dr Abdullah Muththalib responding to a question by an MP at the Peoples Majlis said that the project contractor is currently working to arrange project financing for the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project 

– the report said that according to the minister, the GoM is currently evaluating the financing proposals submitted by the contractor 

– the minister said that as per the agreement with the contractor, the company must arrange for the finance but the loan will be taken by GoM 

– އައްޑޫ ބްރިޖު މަޝްރޫއު: މިހާރު ކުރިޔަށް ދަނީ ފައިސާ ހަމަޖެއްސުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް 

https://mihaaru.com/news/135670

– News report that the Ministry of Finance had announced for expression of interest from a party to provide expert advice for the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge project. 

– the ministry’s call for EOI was seeking a company to produce the survey, designs, tender documents and technical specifications for the project 

– the deadline for EOIs is 24 March 2025  

– އައްޑޫ ބްރިޖުގެ މަސައްކަތަށް ލަފާދޭނެ ބަޔަކު ހޯދަނީ 

https://mihaaru.com/news/143313

– According to the EOI issued by the Ministry of Finance, under point 3 entitled ‘Scope of Services’, the Government of Maldives: “now seeks a consultancy firm for development of the detailed employer’s requirement, survey, technical documentation and bidding documents for the engagement of a Design and Build Contractor to construct the 3 bridges, other coastal structures and link road (hereinafter collectively to be referred as the “Project”).” 

 [There is no information as to what these “3 bridges” are or the multiple additional infrastructure projects included in this EOI] 

– News report that the Hulhumeedhoo Hithadhoo bridge remains a “presidential pledge”
“Govt begins proposal evaluation for Hithadhoo-Hulhumeedhoo bridge”

Atoll Times – https://atolltimes.mv/post/news/12189

“For others – particularly Hulhumeedhoo residents –
the most pressing concern was never physical access
to the connected islands.
Rather than bridging over to services elsewhere,
they called for renewed focus on building up
what was missing locally:
tertiary education, emergency and maternal healthcare,
and digital infrastructure
that could reduce the need for travel altogether.
In this light, connectivity – the bridge –
was not imagined solely in a material sense,
but through the lens of self-sufficiency and equity.“

Project Thimaaveshi & Transparency Maldives,
‘Development Through an Environmental Lens:
A Study on Perceptions and Attitudes Towards
Urban Development in Addu City, August 2025:176

– Addu based youth-for-youth NGO Project Thimaaveshi in collaboration with Transparency Maldives published a report focussing on ‘development’ in Addu. The report explores multiple ‘development’ projects in Addu historically and today, through an environmental lens.

Presenting its findings from the communities about the Hulhumeedhoo-Hithadhoo bridge, the report observed that what needed bridging for the local community is the prevailing inequity divide, as opposed to a hard engineered structure.

Sources:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DM-N8W0TW30/?igsh=eHplb29jcXl1a204

https://transparency.mv/publications/development-through-an-environmental-lens-a-study-on-perceptions-and-attitudes-towards-urban-development-in-addu-city/