Cairo: Egyptian authorities on Wednesday reopened a major Cairo subway station after shutting it down for nearly two years over political violence.
Sadat metro station, which lies beneath the iconic Tahrir Square, was closed in August 2013 amid a wave of street violence in the aftermath of security forces’ deadly removal of two Cairo sit-in camps by backers of deposed Islamist president Mohammad Mursi.
The closure of the station, one of only two hubs to switch between different lines of the subway, lengthened the journey time for many commuters and resulted in frequent overcrowding at the other switch station of Al Shouhda.
The government repeatedly defended the closure, citing security reasons.
Egypt has experienced a spate of attacks, which authorities blamed on Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood.
Trains started on Wednesday to stop at Sadat as local songs, celebrating Ramadan that starts on Thursday, blared out on the station’s public address system.
Transport Minister Hani Dahi inspected the station where he said the subway operator had put in place all facilities requested by security agencies to ensure passengers’ safety.
“We promised to reopen the station before Ramadan and we have kept our promise,” Dahi said amid tight security.
Explosives-detecting and firefighting devices have been installed in the station as part of enhanced security.
The subway service, covering sprawling Cairo, carries more than 3.5 million commuters per day, according to official figures.
Tahrir was the epicentre of the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule. The square is home to key state institutions, the National Museum and hotels.
