India to build a $500 Million bridge in Maldives.
                     INDIA TO BUILD A $500 MILLION 
BRIDGE IN MALDIVES
INTRODUCTION
• India to fund $500 million 6.7-km bridge project in Maldives.
• The bridge project which will be built at a cost of $500 million will be 
funded through a $400 million line of credit (LOC) and $100 million grant.
Source: The Hindu
GMCP
• India will fund the implementation of $500-million Greater Male 
Connectivity Project (GMCP)
• GMCP will connect Maldivian capital Male with neighbouring islands of 
Villingili, Gulhifahu and Thilafushi.
Source: DW
AIR TRAVEL BUBBLE
• India, Maldives announced starting an air travel bubble between the two 
nations.
• Air bubbles or travel corridors are systems established between two 
countries that perceive each other to be safe and allow carriers of both 
the countries to fly passengers either way without any restrictions.
Source: Web in Travel
CHINA AND INDIA EXERTING INFLUENCE
• India and the West accused China of saddling countries, such as the 
Maldives, with unsustainable debts while tightening its grip in the region.
• In order to regain influence in the Maldives, India has started investment 
in Maldives.
Source: Firstpost
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
• Yameen was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to five years 
in prison, with his jail-term beginning in February of this year. 
• He was found guilty of awarding construction contracts to Chinese 
companies at inflated prices.
Source: BBC
REGAIN DIPLOMATIC INFLUENCE
• India has sought to regain diplomatic influence in the Indian Ocean island 
after a new administration led by President Ibrahim Solih.
• President Solih called the financial package "a landmark moment in 
Maldives-India cooperation".
Source: The Hindu
MALDIVES
• The Maldives, a nation of 340,000 people and 1,192 islands located on 
major East-West shipping lanes.
• It borrowed billions of dollars from Beijing and hired Chinese firms for 
infrastructure projects under Yameen’s presidency.
Source: Times of India
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
• The foreign minster talked about economic relations between India and 
the Maldives that will bring prosperity through the connection.
• This will promote the dynamic people-to-people ties between the two 
countries.
Source: Policy Forum
COMPARING CHINA–MALDIVES FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE
• The male scheme will be three times longer than the 2.1km, $200m 
China–Maldives Friendship Bridge, built by China Harbour Engineering. 
• That scheme was completed during the tenure of President Yameen, who 
was closer to China.
Source: Global Times
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