Transportation Ministry will double the price of Cairo's metro tickets to EGP2 (USD0.26) in an attempt to offset annual losses, estimated at EGP250 million (USD32 million), a spokesman said on 18 February. Students, low-income and disabled people will be exempted from the new rise through yearly subscriptions set on the current price of one Egyptian pound, Ahmed Ibrahim told Ahram Online. “The decision won’t need parliamentary approval and is expected to be effective before the end of the current fiscal year 2015/16 in June,” Ibrahim said. He added that the new price remains relatively low considering that people can travel long distances with a ticket and that fare evasion by passengers currently costs the state between EGP50 million and EGP60 million a year. (ahramonline)