During a celebration on Tuesday evening marking the finalisation of the first stage of the project, the prime minister said the passage will be opened in early 2022. He added that its spacious areas that are designed for recreation, tourism, and shopping will offer Egyptians a wide range of activities and services.

The walkway’s first phase extends over 1.8 kilometres from the Imbaba Bridge to the 15 of May Bridge.

It includes five restaurants, five cafes, 62 shops, three parking lots that can take up to 180 cars each, and a 275 square-metre theatre that can accommodate 772 people.

The pedestrian walkway is designed to develop the Nile Corniche area, allowing residents and tourists to enjoy the Nile view, along with the surrounding greenery.

The second and third stages of the project are still under construction, a statement by the cabinet said.

The 3.2-kilometre-long second phase will extend from the Qasr Al-Nil Bridge to 6 of October Bridge over the length of 0.8 kilometres, and from the 6 of October Bridge to the 15 of May Bridge over the length  of 1.1 kilometres, and from the Imbaba Bridge to the Sahel Bridge over the length of 1.3 kilometres.

The 3-kilometre-long third phase is planned to extend from the Tahya Misr Bridge to the Sahel Bridge with a length of 1.9 kilometres, and from the Qasr Al-Nil Bridge to the Meridian Bridge with a length of 1.1 kilometres.

Assem El-Gazzar — the minister of housing, utilities and urban communities — and Cairo’s Governor Khaled Abdel-Aal took part in the event, among others.