They Are Widening the Ring Road - Displaced Residents

One of the priorities of the Sisi presidency in Egypt has been an emphasis on road construction.

A national project for road development was launched by El-Sisi in 2014 with the goal of building and upgrading 7,000 kilometres of roads at a cost of EGP 175 billion ($10.9 billion).

But, as the saying goes, "you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs."  The widening of the Ring Road or construction of new wide boulevards (discussed in the previous post) requires the displacement of people, property and businesses.  This causes a good deal of distress.  It is discussed at some length in this piece published by (surprisingly) WHBL, a radio station in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

“These changes worry people,” he said, adding that business at his carpentry shop has slowed to a trickle as people stop work on homes that risk demolition.

Hosni Ali, a 34-year-old selling tomatoes from a donkey cart, said a storage room he rented was demolished because of the new roadworks. “Everyone here is scared … everything is on hold,” he said.

"The number of buildings being demolished in order to expand and upgrade Greater Cairo's Ring Road is 390 so as compensations will be disbursed to 1,380 families, 296 shop owners, and 136 workshop owners in Basatin neighborhood," according to an article in Egypt Today.  

One interesting thing that has resulted from the demolition is a display of interior decorating schemes.  Driving along the Ring Road, partially demolished buildings have become the norm as construction proceeds.  While most buildings are taken down completely, a single remaining wall is frequently left - perhaps it cannot be taken down without risking major damage to the adjacent structure.  And in some cases, only a portion of the building needs to be demolished to yield sufficient right-of-way.  Can you imagine seeing half of your home demolished and the remainder left on display in the neighborhood?

We have often described the interiors of these bland, unpainted, brick building as having very colorful interiors, often with very modern features and furniture that belie the plain appearance of the exteriors.  

Here are a few pictures of the buildings that now line the Ring Road near the bridge over The Nile.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many more pictures can be found at this Flickr Album.