Downtown Cairo to become pedestrian friendly
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If the government’s plans come to fruition, downtown Cairo will become greener, less congested and more pedestrian friendly. The Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development is working on turning downtown Cairo into a historical tourist area — and the first step is to implement a ban on cars.
The government is trying to imitate historical pedestrian areas in European capitals as a means of restoring the city’s lost glory.
Created by Khedive Ismail Pasha, in the latter half of the nineteenth century to be a Nile-side imitation of Paris with wide boulevards and spacious squares, the belle époque architecture now crumbles onto sidewalks lined with gaudy, neon-lit storefronts and streets deafened by the crawling mass of honking traffic.
A 26,000-square-meter underground multi-story garage is currently being built in Tahrir Square to accommodate 2,500 cars and is scheduled to open in 2011. From there, people can walk or catch public transport into the center. It also includes landscaping and the establishment of outdoor restaurants and coffee shops.
People with physical disabilities would still be able to enjoy the area, as plans also include tracks for electric cars.
The goal is to turn the area into a historical district where one can appreciate the stories behind the buildings without the hassle of crowds and traffic.
Excerpted from an article by Osama Diab for Egypt Today
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