Business & Tourism

Minister defends price tag of Chinese-funded bridge

The opposition has long criticised the cost of the current administration’s flagship projects as wildly inflated, alleging graft and misuse of public funds.

25 May 2018, 9:00 AM

Housing Minister Dr Mohamed Muizz has defended the price tag of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge following comparisons to Dubai’s US$107.3 million Shindagha Bridge project.

The opposition has long criticised the cost of the current administration’s flagship projects as wildly inflated, alleging graft and misuse of public funds.

“While Dubai’s 13km Shindagha Corridor costs $1.36 billion, the Shindagha Bridge part of the project is 295m, and this 295m costs US$107 million,” the housing and infrastructure minister tweeted Thursday.

“The length of CMFB is 1.39km and the cost is $198 million. Of this $113mln is free aid.”

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