An Egyptian government plan to amend the endpoints of trains coming from the governorates of Upper Egypt in the south has sparked criticism and accusations of “discrimination” against the population of the region.
The Ministry of Transport, which is overseeing the project, defended its work, stressing that it was aimed at reducing congestion at the main station in the center of Cairo.
Egypt’s rail network transports 500 million passengers annually and extends across most of the Egyptian governorates. Residents, mainly in the southern governorates, who live far from the capital, largely depend on railways.
The Ministry of Transport intends to dedicate a station in the Bashteel area, north of Giza, to be the end point for the trains coming from the southern governorates.
According to the ministry, the future Bashteel Railway Station is expected to serve as a gateway to Upper Egypt, reduce pressure on central train stations in terms of transportation, services, and maintenance, as well as help alleviate traffic congestion inside the capital’s streets.
The construction of the station, over an area of 31,000 square meters, is scheduled to be completed within three years.
However, statements by government officials that blamed the residents of Upper Egypt governorates for the traffic in the capital sparked wide criticism. Some even considered that the new railway project carried some form of discrimination against the people of this area.
Deputy Mohammad Al-Ghoul said in a press statement that some government officials “deal with the residents of Upper Egypt as second-class citizens.”
In response, Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, the Minister of Transport, defended the plan and highlighted its advantages.
“It will be surrounded by main streets and axes, enabling passengers to move within the capital,” he stated.