A direct shipping route between India and the Maldives has been established, bringing fresh food directly to the southern atolls of Addu. The first shipment, carrying 150 tonnes of perishable items like fruits, vegetables, onions, garlic, and eggs, arrived at Hithadhoo Port in Addu late on Wednesday night. This marks a significant development for the region, as it promises to reduce both the cost and complexity of importing goods, especially perishable items, to the southern atolls.
The new route, operated by the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) in collaboration with Kerala-based Finesse Group, is a direct line from Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu, India, to Hithadhoo Port. This eliminates the need to ship goods first to the capital city of Male’ before onward transportation to Addu, resulting in significant cost savings. Additionally, the use of steel ships allows for year-round shipments, unlike the previous reliance on wooden ships that were only operational during certain times of the year.
This initiative is also a testament to the strengthened security measures implemented at Hithadhoo port, addressing concerns raised by Indian shipping companies. The successful launch of this direct shipping route is anticipated to evolve into a bi-weekly service, further enhancing the flow of goods between India and the Maldives.
Meanwhile, the Thilamale Bridge project in the Maldives has reached a significant milestone. The project, which involves a 6.7 km bridge connecting four areas and costing over USD 454 million, has achieved 40.47% completion. The first segment of the bridge’s marine precast deck near Villimale’ has been completed, as announced by Ibrahim Thoaam Mohamed, Maldives’ Minister of State for the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure. This project, initiated during the previous administration, underscores the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives.
