The best solution to prevent overcrowds at metro stations is to allow employees to leave at 3pm, said Kamel Al-Wazir, Minister of Transport. This will allow employees to beat the crowds leaving work at 5pm when shops are currently closing.
Al-Wazir said the metro has been transporting about 3 million passengers daily on normal pre-coronavirus days from 6 am to 12 am. Due to the current. conditions, the metro is now closing at 5:30 pm, causing a buildup of users.
The statements of the minister came during a televised phone interview on Friday evening, where he noted the over-crowdedness on Cairo’s metro system
Al-Wazir further indicated that solving the problem of overcrowding in the pre-curfew period is only possible if everyone united to solve it. He also said that the ministry has taken measures to ease traffic congestion, especially on the metro, which is also undergoing a gradual cleaning and sterilisation process.
He called on citizens to abide by the instructions until Egypt has overcome the coronavirus crisis. Over the past three days, photos and videos have spread on social media showing packed metro stations and trains.
On Thursday, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation Ahmed Abdel Hady said intervals between trains will be about one and half minutes, to prevent overcrowding.
He added that there will be two trains added to the al-Marg-Helwan line, and two trains to the Shubra al-Khaima-al-Munib second line starting Thursday, on March 26. These are to prevent overcrowding on the trains before the start of curfew. Those two metro lines are the most crowded, while the third is always known as the calmer.
He said that trains, ticket stations, and waiting areas are being disinfected on a continuous basis, pointing out that all employees of the Cairo metro are required to wear face masks.
