The Ministry of Housing has completed the design studies to implement the first phase of a new road linking the Assiut plateau with the Western Desert and Eastern Desert roads. The project's first phase will see the completion of 22km of the road, connecting the plateau with the Western and Eastern Deserts by a bridge over the River Nile, according to Mohammed Nasser, head of the Central Agency for Reconstruction. Nasser said that the first phase's implementation will begin during fiscal year (FY) 2015/2016, with investments of EGP 50m out of EGP 300m, which is the project's total cost. Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouly said the project targets the creation of a new urban area on the Assiut plateau to control the high real estate prices in the city. Madbouly added that his ministry is moving forward in several development and service projects in Upper Egypt, in addition to the activation of the new cities through offering housing units and land. Madbouly noted that two roads will be built in Upper Egypt, one in Assiut and one in Minya, adding that the first stage of the New Toshka city will be launched in August. He said an integrated plan was set for all new Upper Egypt cities to launch commercial malls, services and various residential projects to attract citizens in this area to the new cities. He pointed out that the Golden Triangle project will serve a large proportion of Upper Egypt and will link them with the Red Sea governorate. In addition, work will soon begin to reclaim 400,000 acres in the west Minya region, within the framework of the 1m acres project.
