The Ministry of Transport has requested the Ministry of Interior to immediately intervene to protect the dedicated lane of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Cairo Ring Road from unauthorized vehicles, a senior official at the General Authority for Roads, Bridges and Land Transport told Al Manassa.
The ministry’s request comes after videos surfaced on social media showing numerous private cars using the BRT lane and entering its stations, obstructing the project’s operations.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ministry documented violations by private car owners on Sunday and Monday, including driving near stations and motorcycles parking in passenger waiting areas.
He described these actions as violations of the law and the government’s directive to keep the lane clear.
The Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday the start of trial operations for the first phase of the BRT. It runs 35 km from the intersection of the Ring Road with the Alexandria Agricultural Road to the Police Academy station in New Cairo.
The official said the Ministry of Interior would begin enforcing regulations and announcing penalties starting Tuesday, noting that the Ministry of Transportation is determined to prevent delays or disruptions to bus operations.
“We will not allow any interference with the buses’ schedule or their designated stations,” he said.
The BRT is intended to connect eastern Cairo with its western areas and link to other transport networks serving the New Administrative Capital, including the East Nile Monorail. It operates in a dedicated lane in the center of the Ring Road, providing an alternative to the privately-owned microbuses, that act as a vital, affordable, and often chaotic backbone of public transportation.
