Seven major construction companies will complete the first phase of a Nile-style waterway project lined with greenery inside Egypt's new capital in 18 months, a source said on Thursday. Dubbed as The Green River, the 35-km-long project is set to be one of the biggest commercial and entertainment parks in the Middle East and the world. It is conducted by the Egyptian Ministry of Housing in partnership with Dar Al-Handasah. In January, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly gave the go-ahead to the construction of The Green River, which will link different quarters of the new capital around 45km (28 miles) east of Cairo. The seven contractors have started the drilling works of the landscapes of the Green River, which will include some gardens within the next few months, the official source in the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD) authority added. "The Egyptian New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) is financing The Green River, which will be implemented in three phases," the source said. The first phase is spanning over 1,000 feddans with investments ranging between 9-10 billion Egyptian pounds ($549-609 million), he added. The Green River is expected to host more than 2 million visitors annually. It will include the latest smart communication and mobility methods in the Middle East. The Egyptian prime minister said in earlier statements that the project would serve as a catalyst for the healthy life of the population, in accordance with global rates, including environmental value, green spaces, and areas for physical activities and recreation. The park is divided from east to west into three homogeneous planning sectors linked to the immediate surroundings, each reflecting a personality and a distinctive visual and urban characteristic.
