Minister of Transport Kamel El Wazir said that EGP 1.7 trillion were allocated for the period between June 2014 and June 2024 to implement a ministry’s vision that goes beyond the movement of people and goods to contribute to a comprehensive national development.

Wazir made the remarks on Saturday 25/12/2021 during the opening ceremony of a series of national development projects in Upper Egypt, in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

This vision seeks to serve the State’s mega development projects in all areas by facilitating citizens’ movement, providing technical training to the ministry staff, giving more focus to safety and security standards, following world-class specifications while carrying out these projects, and achieving regional integration, Wazir said.

He added that out of the EGP 1.7 trillion, EGP 600 billion had been dedicated to the ministry’s projects in Upper Egypt, including the construction and upgrading of 17,000 kilometres of main roads, 22 bridges over the Nile, 1,000 bridges and tunnels, in addition to 28,000 kilometres of local roads.

These projects were carried out as part of the president-backed “Decent Life” initiative at an approximate cost of EGP 474 billion, the minister pointed out.

To serve national development projects and new urban communities, President Sisi issued directives in June 2014 to cut travel distance between transportation corridors along the Nile by 25 kilometres through establishing 22 bridges over the Nile, including 14 bridges in Upper Egypt, at EGP 38 billion, Wazir said.

So far, 13 bridges have been completed, five of which are being opened today, he added.

Meantime, as many as nine bridges are under construction, taking total number of bridges and road corridors to be completed by 2024 to 60, including 38 in Upper Egypt, the minister noted.

Wazir also briefed the president on the State’s 2024-2030 plan to build more road corridors in Upper Egypt, including three bridges in Sohag and Qena at a cost ranging from EGP 7.5 billion to EGP 9 billion.

Speaking about the National Roads Project, a large infrastructure project initiated by President Sisi in August 2014, Wazir revealed that the ministry plans to add 7,000 kilometres to the national road network, including 2,600 kilometres in Upper Egypt.

This will take total length of the national road network to 30,000 kilometres, including 12,600 kilometres in Upper Egyptian governorates, Wazir pointed out.

He also touched upon the ministry’s efforts to upgrade and 10,000 kilometres of main roadways at EGP 295 billion, of which EGP 120 billion had been dedicated for road development projects in Upper Egypt.

Moreover, out of the 1,000 bridges and tunnels the ministry plans to build nationwide at EGP 140 billion, 365 bridges and tunnels will be built in Upper Egypt at EGP 50 billion.

As for railway projects, Wazir said that EGP 53 billion, EGP 50 billion, and EGP 105 billion have been allocated to raise the efficiency of mobile units, signalling systems, and railway infrastructure, respectively.

In addition, the ministry plans to improve railway workshops at EGP 15 billion, and improve the skills of railway staff at EGP 2 billion.

The ministry has signed agreements to procure 1,300 train carriages and renew 1,313 others at EGP 19 billion, the minister said, noting that more than one half of these carriages will be used along the railway line in Upper Egypt.

Moreover, the ministry has contracted with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) to procure 1,215 railroad freight wagons at EGP 4.1 billion, of which 790 of wagons will also be used along the railway line in Upper Egypt, Wazir added

For the first time, the ministry has partnered with six national private companies to improve railroad tracks, Wazir said.

He noted that the ministry seeks to expand its partnerships with private companies to boost competitiveness.

As regards the development of the ministry’s human resources, Wazir said that new standards had been adopted for selecting and qualifying railway workers, in line with the presidential directives on that score.

As many as 550 engineers have been selected to receive six-month training at the Military Academy, while 3,250 technicians have been chosen receive training at the Armed Forces non-commissioned officers institute for a similar period, the minister said.

He also shed light on a ministry’s rehabilitation plan for current workers.

As for seaport projects, Wazir revealed the ministry plans to add 34 kilometres of quays and terminals at EGP 11.6 billion, highlighting also the upgrade works under way in Ain Sokhna and Safaga seaports.

Furthermore, the ministry plans to upgrade and establish 21 land ports and logistics centres nationwide, eight of which are located in Upper Egypt, Wazir said.

Source: State Information Service Egypt