Housing Ministry officials held intensive talks on Tuesday with the consultative office in charge of designing the new administrative capital.

The talks are meant to expedite providing the new administrative capital with needed utilities.

The head of the executive agency for potable water and sanitation, Hassan el Far, said on Tuesday work on the water pipeline needed for construction work in the new capital was launched.

He also noted that the Arab Contractors Company started in September carrying out some works at an estimated budget of 285 million EGP.

The Egyptian government has announced during the Egypt Economic Development Conference (EEDC) held in March that it plans to build a new capital to the east of the present one, Cairo.

The housing minister said the project would cost dlrs 45bn and take five to seven years to complete.