Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir has affirmed that phase I of Egypt’s national pavement development program is currently being undertaken, involving 197 asphalt paving projects with a total length of 837.5 kilometers across 12 governorates, Invest-Gate reports.

With costs worth EGP 2 bn, pavement works are underway in Giza, Minya, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Damietta, Qalyubia, Monufia, Dakahlia, Gharbia, Ash Sharqia, Kafr El Sheikh, and Beheira, El Wazir unveiled, noting that approvals for 162 of the supra projects were issued so far, according to a Cabinet statement on July 6.

This came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Local Development Minister Mahmoud Shaarawy, and other ministerial officials, where the former executive reiterated the state’s keenness to enhance locals’ quality of life, especially those of rural areas.

Further, Madbouly highlighted that the Egyptian government has earmarked a large chunk of the FY 2020/21 budget for the national pavement development program, which was earlier launched by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, with planned investments of EGP 10 bn.

Upon completion of phase I, the program is set to broaden to incorporate other Egyptian provinces, which the prime minister emphasized to be carried out swiftly to serve all citizens nationwide and to ensure easy commutes for people, the statement underlined.

In mid-January, Sharaawy proclaimed that top-priority pavement projects for the next two fiscal years encompass 2,652 roads (or 6,586 kilometers), with combined costs of EGP 12.7 bn, according to a previous press release.