President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has denied allegations that the China-funded SinaMalé Bridge, which connects Malé to Hulhumalé, was missing a lane when it was inaugurated. The controversy arose after recent remarks made by Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, suggesting that former President Abdulla Yameen had reprimanded Muizzu, who was the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure at the time, over the alleged issue.
During a recent interview on Sangu TV, Speaker Abdul Raheem recounted an incident in which President Yameen, angered by what he perceived as a missing lane on the bridge, reportedly scolded Muizzu to the point of tears. This incident, according to the Speaker, occurred during a meeting at the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) office as the bridge was nearing its inauguration.
In response, President Muizzu, in an exclusive interview with Sangu TV, clarified the timeline and details of the SinaMalé Bridge project. He stated that the project was handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure in late 2014, and all phases of the project, including pre-feasibility, feasibility, concept design, and detailed design, were conducted under his supervision.
“From the very beginning, the design of the bridge included two lanes for vehicles and an additional lane designated for pedestrians or bicycles,” President Muizzu explained. He emphasized that the number of lanes had not changed at any point during the project’s development.
Sinamale’ Bridge
As the bridge’s completion approached, Yameen requested a dedicated lane for motorcycles, according to President Muizzu. When it became clear that this would not be feasible, Yameen proposed converting the bicycle lane into a motorcycle lane. However, given that the project was nearing its final stages and arrangements for the opening ceremony with Chinese dignitaries had already been finalized, significant alterations to the bridge design were not possible.
President Muizzu recounted that during a meeting at the PPM office, Yameen expressed concerns about potential accidents on the bridge if a separate motorcycle lane was not provided. The former president even suggested canceling the bridge’s opening if the lane could not be added.
Reflecting on the incident, President Muizzu admitted that Yameen’s harsh words brought him to tears, as he had invested tremendous effort into the project, which he viewed as a transformative achievement for the Maldives. Later that evening, Muizzu contacted Yameen, urging him to reconsider canceling the inauguration, warning that it could strain relations between the Maldives and China, especially given the high-profile nature of the project.
In conclusion, President Muizzu reiterated that no lanes were missing from the bridge and that the project was completed as planned, with the design and structure remaining consistent throughout its development.
