Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif has issued a decree putting public transportation throughout Greater Cairo under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation. It had previously been the joint responsibility of the Cairo governor and Interior Ministry.
The decree calls for the formation of a Public Transportation Regulatory Authority to be mandated with controlling all means of urban transport, including buses, trains, trams, taxis and the Cairo Metro.
The new authority's board of directors will be comprised of representatives from the ministries of housing, interior, finance, environment and local development, along with the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Helwan, Qalyubiya and 6 October City. It is expected to officially begin its activities next year.
“The new authority will devise policies and plans aimed at modernizing the capital's public transport systems,” said Transportation Minister Alaa Fahmi. “It will work on improving public transport services for the public.”
Fahmi added that local and foreign private-sector companies were being encouraged to invest in the field.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
