Coronavirus: Sisi Stresses on Workers Safety At New Capital

President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Wednesday with the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, Major-General Ehab El-Far, and other top officials.

The Spokesman for the Presidential Affairs, Ambassador Bassam Rady, stated that during the meeting, the officials reviewed the structural and engineering situation for a number of projects in the new administrative capital, especially the Egyptian Islamic Cultural Center, Masr Mosque and the memorial.

President Sisi called for the continuation of work in the new administrative capital according to the approved planning and construction plans, with full commitment to all precautionary measures for health protection and maintaining the safety of workers at the sites.

[caption id="attachment_67915" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The new administrative capital[/caption]

He also stressed taking into account the implementation of the latest international standards and smart city technology to embody the image of the new Egyptian state, within the framework of a comprehensive long-term strategic perspective, according to the presidency spokesman.

He added that the president also reviewed the progress in a number of the authority’s projects in eastern Cairo neighbourhoods, including roads, axes, bridges, and pedestrian crossing facilities.

According to the statement, the eastern Cairo projects are part of a comprehensive plan for the modernisation and development of Greater Cairo. 

Sisi Postpones New Capital Inauguration  

While Egypt is fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic, construction at a new capital taking shape east of Cairo is continuing at full throttle after a short pause to adjust working practices, officials told Reuters.

Known as the New Administrative Capital, it is the biggest of a series of mega-projects championed by President Sisi as a source of growth and jobs.

Due to the spread of the coronavirus, Sisi postponed moving the first civil servants to the new city and moved back the opening of a national museum adjoining the pyramids to next year.

However, officials have sought to keep the mega-projects going to protect jobs, and after 10 days of slowdown construction had fully resumed at the new capital with a shift system.