Work is ongoing at the New Ismailia City, which will be established on 2,828 feddans, while making room for future expansions, director of major projects at the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Karam Salem said.

The city is the only nationwide that has put into account persons with special needs during the construction of roads, recreational areas, playgrounds, elevators and residential units, Salem said in statements on the sidelines of a visit of the East Suez Canal area.

The new city is divided into five neighborhoods with 3,310 residential buildings and 1,220 villas, making the total number of residential units there 57,000 to accommodate 314,000 residents, he said.

It includes different types of population segments as it has social housing, economic and distinguished residential buildings in addition to the villas area, he added.

Underground garages were also built in the city, he said.

Four service areas have been planned in the city to include clubs, shops, schools, medical centers, markets, civil registry offices, a city hall, hospitals, mosques and churches, investment areas, he said.

A main club will be built on 90 feddans, the largest ever constructed by the Armed Forces, including 30 feddans for an artificial lake, he said.

Work at the new city had started in January 2014, he said, noting that nearly 72% of the first phase has been completed.

Speaking about the "Meliz International Airport" carried out by the Armed Forces in Sinai, he said the airport has been designed to accommodate Airbus 340 planes.

The airport project is expected to be completed by April 25, he said.