Construction at the New Administrative Capital (NAC) is moving forward in full swing, with work being stretched over two shifts and a 70% labor force present on-site, Reuters reports.

NAC saw a dip in productivity as companies adapted to health guidelines and COVID-19 challenges geared to staying healthy at home. But, after 10 days of slowdown, officials have sought to keep the megaprojects going to protect jobs, Spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Amr Khattab told Reuters on May 13.

Back in April, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had postponed to 2021 the inauguration of all national projects due this year, including the planned relocation of government offices to NAC and the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

“We have clear instructions from his excellency the president that the postponement of the opening is not a delay to the project,” Khattab stressed. “The project is running on time, employing some 250,000 workers.”

According to Reuters, the housing ministry plans to deliver two residential districts by late 2021, while the Central Business District (CBD) should be concluded by early 2022, said Ahmed Al-Araby, deputy head of the new capital’s development authority, noting that private developers and the army are building six other neighborhoods.

In early April, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Assem El Gazzar confirmed that the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) is currently investing EGP 55 bn in a number of ongoing national projects and new cities. This includes the Maspero Triangle, Ahl Misr Promenade, Social Housing Program, among others, according to a previous ministerial statement.