The public and private sectors are looking to provide a lifeline for the overburdened Egyptian transportation system. Sherine El-Madany listened in on a recent seminar Construction of a sophisticated and reliable transportation network will boost investment and economic development, said guest speakers at a seminar organised last week by the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt in collaboration with the ministries of transport and civil aviation. "Factors that enhance the economy such as tourism and trade will prosper if we improve Egypt's transportation system," said Essam Sharaf, minister of transport at the seminar, which was entitled "Investment and Technology Opportunities in Transportation and Civil Aviation in Egypt." "Social and economic activities such as tourism, education, and health demand a good-quality transportation system," said Sharaf. Experts discussed various renovations that are to take place in both the transportation and civil aviation sectors. One area of renovation involved Egypt's underground system in which four lines will be added to the Cairo Metro to cover wider areas of the city. Priority has been given to Line Three, which will start from Imbaba and Mohandessin, run through 29 stations, and stop at Cairo Airport, costing LE6.45 billion. In addition, Alexandria will add a metro line to its transportation network, with 18 stations extending from the Abu Qir railway station to Al-Max. The current road network will also be renovated to include nine new bridges and five new freeways stretching from Cairo to Assiut and Borg Al-Arab to Aswan, at a cost of LE300 million. "To help increase international trade and tourism, one major freeway will be constructed to link Marsa Matrouh, Alexandria, and Cairo with Suez, Taba, and Sharm El-Sheikh," said Magdi El-Dahan, manager of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges. He added that the Ring Road would be transformed into a freeway to enhance its performance and reduce traffic congestion in Cairo. Another area of reform in land transportation involves the increase of air- conditioned as well as environmentally friendly vehicles operating in cities other than the capital. Additionally, the expansion of public/ private partnerships is planned to introduce double-decker buses in Egypt and further develop bus terminals, stops and lanes. Railway transportation will also develop with new stations in Tanta, Alexandria, Ismailia, Zaqaziq, and Aswan surrounded by parking areas, shopping malls, hotels, apartment complexes, and movie theatres. Cairo's railway station will also be redesigned to increase tourism and encourage investment. Policy-makers are also looking into introducing technology solutions in land transportation. An electronic railway ticketing reservation system is to be deployed, enabling passengers reserve tickets online rather than standing in queues. Moreover, automated ticketing machines will be present in 20 main stations, syndicates, universities, and clubs. Passengers will also have access to train timetables and destinations. Payments can be made through pre-paid cards, credit cards, or to conductors in the train. Moving on to the civil aviation sector, speakers listed various changes that are to take place in order to increase tourism and turn airports into a self-financing source of foreign currency. At Cairo Airport, for example, Terminals One and Two will be expanded to make way for a new Greeters' Hall, VIP Lounge, restaurants, the Air Mall, and Air Sight. Furthermore, a new terminal will be constructed with a capacity to accommodate 23 aircraft at a time and 21 million passengers annually to prevent congestion. "Airports are the first and last thing people see when they come to Egypt, so it is important to give them a good impression when they arrive and depart," said Karim Ramadan, general manager of Microsoft Egypt. An E- Gate project is to be set up to provide quick and secure access in and out of airports. These gates function via both smart cards scan and index finger authentication which will help track criminals and prevent passport fraud. They will also eliminate bottlenecks at points of entry and project a tourist-friendly image.
