Egypt sets $21.6 bln for metro upgrade in four-year scheme

Egypt’s government has decided to invest around 386 billion Egyptian pounds ($21.6 billion) over the next four years to upgrade its metro network.

Recently approved by the parliament, the government’s plan aims to add around 97.2 km, to the current metro network by the end of the financial year 2021/2022. The Cairo Metro is currently a 77.6 km long network.

The amount covers upgrading the infrastructure for the first and second metro lines by importing 225 automatic fare collection (AFC) gates in addition to 32 new trains for the first line and six more for the second.

It also includes completing the third phase of the third line along with the first phase of the fourth line.

The plan also aims to carry out the fifth and sixth lines of the metro besides the electric train along the country’s new capital, and to upgrade Alexandria’s 150-year-old Raml tram line.