One of Egypt’s most significant infrastructures, the Greater Cairo Monorail project advances towards completion. The project is at 90 percent completion at the moment with much already done. Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) is the company responsible for the oversight and construction of the project. The scope of the project is budgeted at $4.5bn and it includes two main lines as its construction scope. This includes a 43-kilometer line from 6 October City to Giza. It also includes a 54-kilometer line connecting East Cairo to the New Administrative Capital. The Greater Cairo Monorail is designed to handle 45,000 passengers every hour in each direction. The design and the construction of the project was awarded in 2019. The companies included a consortium of Orascom Construction, Canada’s Bombardier and Frances Alstom. It also involved Egyptian companies Arab Contractors; the consortium was awarded $4.16bn to start the project.
The aim of the project is to improve Cairo’s transportation network by linking two major cities. This include linking the old city center with the New Administrative Capital. The construction of the Greater Cairo Monorail has been delayed significantly by global disruptions. The impact of COVID-19 is still being felt in the project due to supply chain disruptions during the period. The period also caused a significant fluctuation in commodity prices, and it is still causing an effect in the project. Other factors that have influenced the stalling of the project is Russia and Ukrainian war. The conflict further affected the logistics and supply chain of the needed construction materials. NAT is actively working to ensure smooth construction going forward.
Read also: Cairo Monorail Project latest updates
Over 90 percent of the Greater Cairo Monorail Project Works has been Completed.
Over 90 percent of the engineering works for the Greater Cairo Monorail Project has already been completed. Focus now shifts on East of Nile (EoN) line where 75 percent of construction work is completed. The guide away beam construction is nearly done as station construction currently stands at 45 percent completion. Static tests have already started to be conducted on the trains in the EoN depot. The scope also includes the installation of signaling and communications equipment which has started in several stations. The construction also includes completion of the West of Nile (WoN) line. It reports a 52 percent overall completion. Land acquisition issues is the major challenges that are significantly slowing down the project. The client company has promised a quick resolve to the problem. Once completed, the Greater Cairo Monorail will significantly improve transport across Egypt.
