Overcrowding is a growing problem that many major cities around the world are facing, as more and more people flock to them in search of better economic opportunities.
Some countries have taken bold and ambitious steps to solve the problem that these population inflows are causing.
One such country is Egypt, which has decided to build a new capital to ease the congestion in Cairo.
The present capital has a population of 22 million people, making it one of the world’s most densely populated metropolitan areas.
Currently the largest city in North Africa, Cairo’s population is forecast to hit 28.5 million by 2035.
That prospect has forced the government to draw up radical plans to try and ease the pressure on Cairo.
In March 2015, the government announced plans to build a new capital city with a projected cost today of £43 billion.
Known as the New Administrative Capital (NAC), it is being built some 30 miles from Cairo in the desert and is also just 40 miles from the Suez Canal.
The city is connected to the old capital by an electrified light railway system that opened in July 2022.
It is designed to be a major regional administrative and financial centre, as well as a technologically advanced “smart” city.
The city will cover a total area of approximately 725 kilometres and will feature a diverse mix of residential, administrative, and recreational areas.
One of its most imposing architectural monuments is The Iconic Tower, a 385-metre high skyscraper.
This impressive construction boasts 77 floors offering a mixture of residential apartments, office space and several hotels.
The Al-Fattah Al-Alim mosque has also been completed and can accommodate 107,000 worshippers, as well as a sports stadium that can hold 94,000 which the government hopes will help it win the right to host major events like the FIFA World Cup.
The new capital is expected to be home to 6.5 million people and become the administrative heart of the country as government offices and the parliament relocate there.
Government officials say already some 1,500 people have moved to the new city and expect that number to hit 10,000 by the end of the year.
With government ministries relocating to the new city, there are already around 48,000 government employees working there.
