Chinese Technical Team to Lead Planning for Malé Road Network Modernisation

A technical delegation from China will arrive in the Maldives this month to spearhead the structural planning for the modernisation of Malé’s urban road network. The initiative, funded through a Chinese sovereign grant, is a central priority for the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Addressing queries in the Majlis (the Maldivian Parliament) on Monday, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib explained that the project's timeline is governed by the donor nation's administrative requirements. He noted that Beijing mandates separate procurement processes for feasibility, design, and construction, which has contributed to the extended schedule. Minister Muththalib emphasized the necessity of adhering to these regulations, noting that sovereign grants represent the allocation of a donor nation's taxpayer funds. Consequently, the Maldives must comply with the donor's legislative frameworks to secure and utilize the aid. The project has been strategically divided into phases following recommendations from a feasibility team to implement design changes aimed at mitigating persistent urban flooding in the capital. As a result, modernisation work on Majeedhee Magu, one of the city's primary arteries, will proceed concurrently with the specialized design phases for the rest of the road grid. Clarifying that such procedural durations are standard for international partnerships, the minister pointed out that similar timelines are required for projects funded through Japanese and Indian credit lines. He dismissed suggestions that any delays were intentional, asserting that the government is mobilising every possible operational effort to drive the essential infrastructure project forward.