Cairo:Egypt's Minister of Local Development and Environment, Manal Awad, has announced the completion of detailed urban plans for Nakhl and El-Hasana, two cities in the North Sinai Governorate. These plans are designed to regulate urban expansion, optimize land use, and address future needs for roads and public services.

According to State Information Service Egypt, this initiative is part of the government's broader efforts to enhance public services and promote comprehensive development across the Sinai Peninsula, aligning with directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Said Helmy Abdel Khaleq, head of the Local Planning and Integrated Local Development Sector, provided a report detailing the completed plans. The report highlights their role in regulating urban growth, guiding land use, and setting a framework for future development. Specifically, Nakhl's designated area is set to grow from 369 feddans to 1,251 feddans by 2037, accommodating urban and population growth projections and identifying areas for necessary activities and services.

The urban plan for El-Hasana, covering 403 feddans, outlines land uses, traffic circulation routes, and road networks to facilitate urban development and orderly expansion. Awad noted that these plans represent a significant step in improving urban planning by clarifying land-use designations and identifying needs for roads and public services.

Awad also emphasized the ministry's ongoing collaboration with relevant authorities and North Sinai Governorate to advance local planning and development, adhering to environmental and urban planning standards. This collaboration aims to support essential services and infrastructure, boost economic development, and create job opportunities for local residents.

Abdel Khaleq added that the plans are crucial for setting urban expansion priorities, identifying infrastructure and service needs, improving land-use efficiency, and guiding development and investment in line with designated land uses and planning regulations.