Egypt's transport ministry has said that the fares on Cairo's third metro line will increase from EGP 3-7 to EGP 5-10 when the ministry opens three new stations on the line on Saturday. 

The third metro line extends from Attaba Square in central Cairo’s Attaba district to Heliopolis in east Cairo.

The ministry is to inaugurate the new stations of Haroun El-Rashid, El-Shams Club, and Alf Maskan on Saturday, which it said was the fourth stage of the rollout of the new line, inaugurated in 2012.

Rides of up to nine stops on the third metro line will now cost EGP 5, rides of 6-15 stops will be priced at EGP 7, and rides of 16 stops or more will cost EGP 10.

The ministry said its new third line stations will feature air-conditioned and pollution-free trains and stations with elevators and escalators for the elderly and electronic display screens giving updates on train arrival times.

The increases won’t affect the prices of tickets on the other two metro lines in the system.  

The fare hikes will also not affect the prices of fare subscriptions available to senior citizens, people with disabilities, and students.

The existing prices of EGP 33 for students for 25 stations, EGP 22 for 25 stations for people with disabilities, and EGP 135 for 35 stations for the elderly remain unchanged. 

In May 2018, Egypt raised metro fares from a flat rate of EGP 2 per ride to EGP 3-7 per ride, based on a new zoning system, citing the need to raise funds for infrastructure development.

Cairo's metro currently carries about 3 million passengers daily on its three lines, with the new stations expected to add an additional 500,000 commuters daily, the ministry said.

The three new metro stations were built at a cost of EGP 6 billion ($357.7 million) from the country's general budget, it added. 

The new stations  will help transport fans attending games in this summer’s African Cup of Nations, which Egypt is hosting from 21 June - 19 July.

Matches are scheduled in a number of stadiums in the Greater Cairo area, including Cairo International Stadium, El-Salam and Air Defense Stadium.