CAIRO: Work on the first phase of Cairo's third subway line commenced Sept. 3 as "Cleopatra, the huge drilling machine, got cranking on site. The drilling machine was lowered underground in front of the Police Academy in Abasseya. The launch of the first phase of construction was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the Ministers of Transportation, Economic Development, International Cooperation, Housing as well as the Governor Cairo Abdel-Azim Wazir and members of parliament. According to the Cabinet's website, the drilling machine cost an estimated LE 3.6 billion. Nazif said the digging machine "Cleopatra will operate for 20 months and the field work will be managed by a French company in cooperation with Arab Contractors and Orascom. Around 600 Egyptian engineers and workers will be involved in the construction process. Officials at the Ministry of Transportation told Daily News Egypt that the new line is designed to serve 2 million commuters daily. The first phase will dig a 43 km long tunnel from Abasseya to Ataba, which will later become five metro stops: Abasseya, Abdo Basha, Al Geisha, Bab El She reya and Ataba. The completion of phase one will serve 250,000 passengers daily and bring in LE 2.7 billion annually to the economy. Nazif said the new line is expected to solve traffic problems in the crowded area. "A good subway line is like a new lung which will facilitate transportation underground and also decrease the traffic on the surface, he said. As the safest and "cheapest method of transportation, the new line is being touted as one of the most important projects of this generation, officials said. In a statement sent to Daily News Egypt, Minister of Transportation Mohamed Mansour said Cairo's third subway line will link the east and west ends of the capital. In addition to solving traffic problems, Mansour said, it will also decrease the number of cars on the streets which will save gas and decrease air pollution. The chairman of the subway authority said LE 18 million were paid to compensate the owners of 65 apartments and shops for their relocation. The Ministry of Transportation told Daily News Egypt in his statement that the second phase of the project will start in November 2009 for four additional stations. Phase three of the project will add eight stations to the new line.
