- The Egyptian Ministry of Transport (MoT), through the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), plans to build and operate the third phase of the Light Rail Train Project (LRT), which is of about 18.5 km long, extending from Funoun City, near Masa Hotel, to the exchange station with the High-Speed Train near Ain Sokhna/Cairo Road. The project comprises 5 stations, including on ground and elevated stations.
- As per the Egyptian laws and regulations, this project requires an EIA, for which Environics was commissioned by the client. Environics had conducted the EIA studies for the LRT Phase I, which included two lines; a freight line of about 40 km that extends from the borders of Badr City to Belbeis, possibly connecting between the existing Suez and Delta rail tracks; and a passenger light rail train of about 63 km, extending from end of Cairo Metro Line 3 to the 10th of Ramadan, Roubeki and the New Capital.
- The EIA for this project, which is a Category-B EIA as per the Egyptian laws and regulations, comprises:
- Review of the proposed project configuration.
- Compilation of relevant environmental laws and regulations.
- Review of the environmental and social baseline, taking into consideration that the project area is already urbanized with numerous on-going construction activities.
- Field visits along the project route to:
- Identify the environmental features of the project area and its surroundings.
- Identify significant waypoints along the project.
- Recommend the baseline spot measurements to be considered during implementation of the monitoring plans.
- Identification and assessment of environmental aspects and impacts.
- Analysis of alternatives.
- Development of mitigation measures for significant impacts.
- Formulation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
- Preparation, finalization and translation of the Form-B EIA study.
- Response to any queries raised by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA).
