Transport min.: We work to develop Egypt’s mass transportation system

CAIRO, Aug 5 (MENA) - The Transport Ministry will work during the coming period on implementing all projects of monorail and electric trains, with a view to providing distinguished services for passengers, Minister of Transportation Kamel el Wazir said.

In a statement released by the cabinet's media center on Monday, the transport minister added that the aim behind carrying out such projects is to develop the mass transportation system across the country, especially in new cities.

The minister's remarks came after the signing of a contract on the construction and maintenance of a monorail train project linking Greater Cairo with the New Administrative Capital (NAC) and the 6th of October City.

The agreement was inked between the Ministry of Transport and Bombardier Transportation Incorporation and a consortium of Orascom and the Arab Contractors companies, in the presence of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Investment Minister Sahar Nasr and Housing Minister Assem el Gazzar, the statement added.

Wazir also said that the monorail train project will mark a significant shift in the country's transportation system, as this means of transport is characterized with being fast, modern, safe and eco-friendly and fuel saving, in addition to helping reduce the levels of environmental pollution and reducing traffic congestion, the statement read.

The 54-km-long first monorail line is scheduled to link Cairo with the New Cairo and the New Administrative Capital, Wazir noted.

The 21-station Cairo monorail line is due to be finalized in 34 months, he said.

He added that a second 42-km-long line will connect 6th October City with Giza.

The 12-station-line has a capacity of 45,000 passengers, the transport minister noted.
It will be implemented in 42 months, he said.

He praised the efforts exerted under the sponsorship of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli to bring the project into light, noting that this venture is a big leap in the transportation industry in Egypt. It is the first of its kind in the country, he also said, pointing out that the construction of the NAC monorail lines have already started on August 1.