Greater Male Connectivity Project: MEA calls it flagship of India's Neighbourhood First policy
Synopsis
The first segment of India's USD 500 million Greater Male Connectivity Project — a 2-km bridge between Male and Vilimael — is complete, with Maldives President Muizzu walking across it on 30 August. The MEA is positioning the 6.74-km project as the centrepiece of India's Neighbourhood First diplomacy at a moment when New Delhi is working to reassert its influence in the Maldives.
Key Takeaways
The MEA on 4 September called the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) a flagship example of India's Neighbourhood First policy .
The first segment — a 2-kilometre bridge between Male and Vilimael — has been completed, with President Mohammed Muizzu walking across it on 30 August .
The full 6.74-kilometre project, comprising bridge and road components, is being built by Afcons at a cost of approximately USD 500 million .
The project was conceived in 2021 and is expected to be fully completed by 2026 .
Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Iruthisham Adam publicly thanked EAM S.
Jaishankar and the Indian government for their commitment to the project.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, 4 September described the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) as a stellar example of Indian assistance to the Maldives under New Delhi's Neighbourhood First policy. The remarks came during a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, where MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed queries on India-Maldives development cooperation.
Key Developments in the Project
Jaiswal confirmed that the first segment of the 6.74-kilometre GMCP — a two-kilometre bridge over deep waters linking the Maldivian capital Male with the island of Vilimael — has been completed. On 30 August, Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and other dignitaries walked across the newly completed bridge, marking the first time in the nation's history that anyone had crossed between the two islands on foot.
'It was a historic day for the Maldives because it is the first time in their history that anybody has walked between the two islands on foot. That was very significant from the perspective of the people of the Maldives,' Jaiswal said.
Scope, Cost, and Timeline
The GMCP, conceived in 2021, connects Male with three islands and comprises both bridge and road components. It is being developed by Afcons, an Indian infrastructure firm. The total project cost stands at approximately USD 500 million, and the full project is expected to be completed by 2026. Officials noted that once operational, the connectivity corridor has the potential to unlock significant economic activity across the linked islands.
'It is expected to be completed by 2026, and once we are able to complete the project, it has the potential to unleash the economic potential of the area,' Jaiswal stated.
Maldives Government's Appreciation
On Sunday, Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Iruthisham Adam acknowledged the project's significance on social media platform X, expressing gratitude to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian government for their support.
'Honoured to accompany President Mohammed Muizzu to review the ongoing work of the Greater Male' Connectivity Project on National Engineers Day. The connection of the final bridge segments between Male and Vilimael is a reflection of the President's steadfast commitment to advancing our development priorities,' Minister Adam wrote.
She further added: 'I express my sincere appreciation to Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and the Indian government for their unwavering commitment to the socio-economic development of the Maldives. GMCP remains a flagship project of Maldives-India cooperation, and stands testament to the close partnership between our two countries.'
India-Maldives Ties: Broader Context
This comes amid a period of recalibration in India-Maldives relations following President Muizzu's election in late 2023, which had initially signalled a tilt toward China. The GMCP's visible progress offers New Delhi a concrete demonstration of its development partnership credentials, reinforcing the Neighbourhood First framework at a diplomatically sensitive moment. Notably, India is described by the MEA as the Maldives' 'leading development partner', with multiple ongoing projects across the island nation.
Point of View
New Delhi needed a visible, tangible win in Male — and a completed bridge segment provides exactly that. What the MEA briefing doesn't address is the broader question of whether India's development pipeline in the Maldives is diversified enough to sustain influence beyond a single flagship project. The USD 500 million price tag is significant, but connectivity alone rarely determines geopolitical alignment. New Delhi will need to match infrastructure with economic and people-to-people depth if the Neighbourhood First policy is to hold.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Greater Male Connectivity Project?
The Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) is a USD 500 million infrastructure initiative connecting the Maldivian capital Male with three nearby islands through a 6.74-kilometre bridge-and-road corridor. It is being built by Indian firm Afcons and is expected to be completed by 2026.
What progress has been made on the GMCP so far?
The first segment — a 2-kilometre bridge over deep waters between Male and the island of Vilimael — has been completed. On 30 August, Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu and other dignitaries walked across the bridge, marking the first time in the country's history that the two islands were connected on foot.
Why is the GMCP significant for India-Maldives relations?
The GMCP is described by India's MEA as a flagship example of its Neighbourhood First policy and its leading development partnership with the Maldives. It represents New Delhi's largest single infrastructure commitment in the island nation and comes at a diplomatically sensitive period in bilateral ties.
Who is building the Greater Male Connectivity Project?
The project is being developed by Afcons, an Indian infrastructure company. It was conceived in 2021 and combines both bridge and road components across 6.74 kilometres.
What did the Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister say about the project?
Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Iruthisham Adam publicly thanked EAM S. Jaishankar and the Indian government on social media platform X, calling the GMCP a flagship project of Maldives-India cooperation and a testament to the close partnership between the two countries.
