"This a general principle the state has set for itself; any removals [of residential buildings] carried out for the public benefit, the state [in return] compensates the [affected] citizens," said El-Sisi while inaugurating a series of national housing and road projects in Giza.

Egypt has been carrying out a series of major national projects nationwide, including highways and flyovers, as well as expanding and widening streets in overcrowded areas to ease traffic congestion. Some residential buildings have been removed in the process.

Road projects in Greater Cairo cost the state around EGP 75 million in compensation for affected citizens, Ehab El-Far, the head of the Armed Forces' Engineering Authority, which takes part in the projects, said during the event.

However, such projects are crucial for easing the movements of millions of people who live in Cairo and Giza El-Far said.

A group of residents has already received their compensation, while others will be handed theirs soon, El-Far noted.

"Many residents voluntarily handed over their buildings even before receiving their compensations once they learned they would be taken for national projects," he added.

Concerning Giza, whose population stands at 9.5 million, the state has spent around EGP 40 billion to carry out the needed road projects, he said, noting that other projects will be implemented soon.

During the event, El-Sisi stressed the need for easing the movement of citizens living in the areas west of Cairo, in reference to Giza neighborhoods, in the same way of those who live in eastern Cairo.

He called for a study on traffic corridors that could be established in overcrowded areas in Giza to further ease congestion there.

He said that some buildings could be demolished to establish the new corridors in those areas, stressing that in that case residents would be compensated.

The roads and axes need to be re-planned in the densely population Giza districts of Kerdasa, Nahya and Bolaq El-Dakrour, El-Sisi said.

The president called on officials to conclude the remaining road projects in Giza districts by the end of this year.

During the inauguration ceremony, a documentary titled ‘A Construction Epic’ was screened. The documentary highlighted the inaugurated projects, which comprised the upgrade of a number of roads and axes in Giza governorate and the Marioutiya area to facilitate movement for citizens. 

It also highlighted the construction of a number of housing ventures in 6 October City, along with the establishment of the October City Sports Complexes.