The Egyptian authorities plan to build a new administrative capital east of present-day capital city Cairo within five to seven years at a cost of $45 billion, the housing minister said on Friday.

Announcing the project, Minister Mostafa Madbouli said the new capital city, which is planned to be the size of Singapore, will house government buildings and diplomatic missions, Lenta.ru reported citing Reuters news agency. Madbouli added that the goal included creating 1.1 million housing units.

Madbouli also said he expected the population of greater Cairo, currently estimated at about 20 million, to double within 40 years, and the objective is to alleviate congestion and overpopulation in Cairo.

The new Egyptian capital city will be planned for a population of 5 million.

And according to the Associated Press, the military has already begun constructing the road linking Cairo to the new planned administrative heart of the capital.

The minister, however, did not say what the new administrative center would be named.