Ever since I wrote the blogpost on my recent trip to the nearby island Vilimale, some people, including both locals and foreigners, have inquired whether Vilimale will retain its distinct status as a natural island with limited or no vehicles that are powered by petrol and diesel fuelled engines.
The concern comes because India is currently helping Maldives to construct a maritime bridge that will connect the capital island Male' with Vilimale, Gulhifalhu, and Thilamale.
Dubbed "Greater Male' Connectivity Bridge", people's concerns stem from the fact that Vilimale still retains the features of a natural Maldivian island with pristine beaches and lagoons and vegetation that is native to our archipelago.
So I Googled "villingili engine vehicle" and came across a link to a Dhivehi language report dated 15 December 2019 on Maldivian news website Sun Online which reported Planning Minister Mohamed Aslam as stating that Vilimale will remain an island without "engine vehicles" even if the bridge connects the island to Male'.
He was quoted as saying that the Government's desire for Vilimale to remain as a "green town" remains unchanged.
Aslam also told a presentation that a "parking zone" will be established on both sides of the bridge for vehicles visiting the island, with an "underpass" for pedestrians to walk under the bridge.
The article reported that Vilimale residents desire that the island be kept free of "engine vehicles".
The article went on to say that at a meeting in July 2019 by the Male' City Council to gather the "complaints and concerns" of Vilimale residents, the residents had expressed "concern" at the possible loss of the ward's "green" character because of the bridge project. (Vilimale is considered a ward of Male').
The residents had requested that development projects be conducted with due regard to the potential "changes" that could occur to the island. The residents had also requested that the "ward" be developed in line with its "green concept".
The report said that efforts were underway to begin the actual work on the bridge "next year", with the project predicted to be complete by the year 2023.
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