Going further south with its development plans, the Egyptian government will be implementing new projects and completing unfinished ones in Sohag, Qena, Luxor and Aswan, even Nubia.
An authority to reconstruct southern Upper Egypt is the go-to body where investment plans and finances are concerned.
It is headed by Mohamed Khater, who, in an interview with Al Borsa business’ daily, put the cost of new projects at LE140 million.
One such project is a 23-kilometer road between Sohag airport and Juhayna and Maragha centres, Khater said. Another road connecting the city of Luxor to the Edfu-Marsa Alam highway should be established over 125 kilometers, he added. The authority will also be acting to upgrade roads in Qena and Aswan, Khater said.
The southern Upper Egypt reconstruction authority has asked for LE270 million of next year’s budget to complete the eastern regional road in Aswan, establish development roads and implement the Nubian resettlement project, Khater said.
The eastern regional road in Aswan should be completed in three years, Khater added, noting that the Arab Contractors Co. already implemented 24 kilometers, which is phase one of the project. .
The new road will serve as an alternative to the Cairo-Aswan agricultural road and will help transfer heavy vehicles outside the residential area, he explained. It will also help lure investments to eastern Aswan, which includes an industrial zone, quarries and mines, Khater further said.
Hassan Allam Sons has won a bid to establish another 8.5-km road between New Sohag and Sohag, Khater said, adding that the project is estimated to cost some LE80 million. The project is meant to help develop the city and facilitate movement from and to Sohag International Airport, he noted.
He also talked about hinterland investments that amount to LE520 million. Hinterland projects are meant to connect governorates of the Egyptian valley with the hinterland, Khater said, adding this will also help decrease over population in governorates.
Work is also underway to resettle Nubians through establishing 1,000 Nubian houses at a total cost of LE175 million, Khater said. Phase one of the project, which includes 552 houses, is already completed, he noted. Phase two includes 264 houses and is almost completed and the implementation of phase three, which includes 184 houses, has already started, he added. The project, which is located on Aswan-Abu Simbel road, should be finalized in May 2016, Khater said.
