Cairo -
Since it was first announced in June of this year;
The project to develop the "Almaza" area east of the Egyptian capital Cairo - by expanding one of its most prominent streets and the required removal of a number of buildings - is still raising crises between the Egyptian authorities and the residents of the area.
Lawyers for the "Defense" office for law and law work announced that a lawsuit had been filed on behalf of some residents of the area to challenge Article Two of Prime Minister Decision No. 3025 of 2021, which allows the seizure of land and real estate located within the expansion of Hussein Kamel Salim Street in preparation for its expropriation.
alternative proposal
According to the Egyptian lawyer and human rights lawyer Khaled Ali, the people of the area presented another proposal instead of the authorities’ plan to remove 39 residential buildings in which they live, and that the Almaza airport wall - on the other side of the road - be moved to the extent of the space needed to widen the street.
The people stressed that they do not oppose development work, but they demand an available alternative that balances all interests, stressing that moving the airport fence and moving it slightly inward will allow the necessary expansion and protect the people from demolishing their homes.
The people also saw - according to Ali - that the compensation proposed by the state - estimated at 8 thousand pounds per square meter - is not close to the real value of the land in the area, which exceeds 35 thousand pounds, which makes obtaining alternative housing - at the same level and with the amount of compensation estimated by the state - almost a matter. impossible.
On more than one occasion, the people of the area stressed that they do not live in random housing that was built away from state planning, but in one of the prestigious neighborhoods of the Egyptian capital.
old promises
Last July, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Shorouk reported assurances to Egyptian officials that they would not start removing the buildings until after reaching a satisfactory agreement with the people of the area.
According to Al-Shorouk, Ibrahim Saber, Deputy Governor of Cairo for the Eastern Region, announced work on a careful study of the decision to remove from the concerned authorities, and that the removal will not be implemented until after reaching with the citizens a great deal of contentment and satisfaction, explaining that proposals and satisfactory alternatives are being developed for citizens and presented to them. So as not to harm the interests of the citizens."
It is noteworthy that the Official Gazette in Egypt published last November a decision issued by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly to "remove all residential properties overlooking the main Hussein Kamel Selim Street in the Almaza area of the Heliopolis district, east of the capital Cairo."
The decision stipulated "the seizure, by direct execution, of the lands and real estate necessary to implement the expansion and development project of Hussein Kamel Salim Street, as a public benefit work, within the framework of facilitating traffic to and from the new administrative capital."