Cairo had boasted an extensive network of tram lines that were installed in the late 19th century. These became neglected starting in the 1970's due to a development vision that favoured economic liberation and privatisation. By the late 20th century, the lines in central Cairo had been dismantled and the Heliopolis line was one of the few remaining and functioning tram lines. Since the early 2000s, and with the expansion of Cairo's subway metro network, there have been numerous calls for the overhaul of the Heliopolis tram line. |
Egyptian state removes tram line in Heliopolis amid public outrage, and despite previous public appeals for its overhaul
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Heliopolis Municipality Completely Removes Tram Line, Egypt |
| Country: | Egypt |
| State or province: | Cairo |
| Location of conflict: | Heliopolis |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Urban development conflicts Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines) Pollution related to transport (spills, dust, emissions) |
| Specific commodities: | Public transport services, Fossil vehicle fuel |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | |
| Type of population | Urban |
| Start of the conflict: | 2012 |
| Relevant government actors: | Ministry of International Cooperation (MoIC) Ministry of Transport Subway Authority Cairo Governorate Heliopolis Municipality |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Green Arm Nahdet El Mahrousa (http://nahdetelmahrousa.org/social-enterprises/green-arm) Heliopolis Heritage Initiative (https://www.facebook.com/HeliopolisHeritageInitiative/) EBRD |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Recreational users Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Appeals/recourse to economic valuation of the environment |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation Potential: Air pollution, Global warming |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Loss of livelihood |
Outcome
| Project Status | In operation |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Local environmental groups like Green Arm Nahdet El Mahrousa are Heliopolis Heritage Initiative pushing for an upgrade of the tram network. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | Despite public appeals and official indicators to the contrary, the tram line was still removed by as yet unclear state actors. No transparency or consultation in the decision making process, no clear rationale for this step. It comes after almost a decade of public protests and appeals that have been met with often conflicting and misleading official announcements by various state actors about the government's plans and intentions for the tram line, and that often sought to placate the protests with reassurances about the intention to "overhaul" and "develop" the tram and not remove it. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Platform London, [email protected] |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 3650 |
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