File Photo: Egypt discusses plans with France's SYSTRA to build subway in Mansoura (Photo: Al-Ahram)
The governor of Daqahliya in the Nile Delta, Kamal Sharobim, discussed on Wednesday with experts from France’s public transport engineering company SYSTRA, proposals to set up a subway system in the governorate's capital, Mansoura, state news agency MENA reported.
The talks were also attended by representatives of Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels.
The two sides discussed proposals to tackle Mansoura's traffic problem, including setting up a metro system covering a total distance of 27 kilometres, a tram network, and a monorail system.
Officials discussed the process of preparing the technical studies required to build the metro system.
The project would be financed by the French government.
Daqahliya is one of Egypt's most populated governorates, home to more than 6.5 million people, according to figures released by state statistics agency CAPMAS in early 2018.
The population of the Greater Mansoura is estimated at one million.
Sharobim reviewed the results of studies conducted by the French group, including the project's total cost, ahead of submitting them to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for consideration.
If approved, this will be Egypt's second metro network after the Cairo underground, which began operating in late 1987 and now serves more than 3.5 million commuters daily.
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