GMR studying Singapore court order

Passengers head for immigration from the tarmac of the GMR-operated Ibrahim Nasir International Airport at Male on Wednesday. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan

GMR-backed consortium GMIAL on Thursday said it was studying the verdict of the Singapore High Court that has gone in favour of the Maldives government.

“We have no comments on the order at the moment, as we are in process of evaluating the same,” a GMR spokesperson said.

Chief Justice of Singapore Sundaresh Menon said in the court on Thursday that the Maldives government “has the power to do what it wants, including expropriating the airport.”

GMIAL got a brief reprieve on Monday after the Singapore High Court, which is acting as an arbitrator in the issue, stayed the decision to terminate the $500-million contract awarded to GMIAL.

The Maldivian Cabinet has asked GMIAL to vacate and remove all property from the airport within 30 days.