Presidential Adviser for National Projects Ibrahim Mahlab stressed that the Dhaba-Zafarana road is one of the biggest roads in the world as it runs for 5,400 kilometers.

This is an important national project that links the road network in Egypt from all directions, Mahlab said in an Egyptian television interview Wednesday evening.

"We are working round the clock to finish this road as quickly as possible," he said, stressing that the road will pass through the lands that were seized by some outlaws in al Deir al Manhout, the Carved Monastery, area following the January 25 revolution, taking advantage of security vacuum that followed the revolt.

The road will be set up with all means taken to preserve holy places in Deir al Manhout area, he added.

In an interview with the Egyptian television, head of the Coptic Orthodox Culture Center Bishop Jeremiah stressed that a corridor will be set up next to the Carved Monastery to allow visitors access the place of worship easily.

He said Coptic elders will set up a fence, on their own, to protect all religious institutions surrounding the monastery, rejecting all attempts to use the issue to stir tensions in the country. 

Egyptian government stressed more than once that the projected road will not touch the monastery, the churches, the sanctuaries, cells and guest house and it will only cross the agricultural land adjacent to the monastery

Source: MENA