New, Smart, and Sustainable Cities in Algeria: Realities and Challenges. Case of the City of Sidi Abdellah in Algiers Region

Abstract

Algerian metropolitan cities in particular, the capital of the country Algiers, have a remarkable impact on the back of the country or even the entire territory of Algeria. Indeed, Algiers continues to attract a large flow of investment and people and goods. It knows also programming and implementation of many major development projects that highlight the image of the entire nation. However, in order to reduce the pressure on this city and satisfy its current and future needs, the strategy adopted for the coherent development of its urbanization aims to seek solutions in its immediate and distant environment (in its metropolitan area and its region), within the framework of double scales: its intercommunal (intermunicipal) master plan and its regional membership. As a solution envisaged consists of the creation of new urban centers of support, able to participate in the economic strengthening of the Metropolitan potential of Algiers and to take charge of its social and residential dimensions. The new city is Sidi A. Allah as the first urban relay is part of this strategy of development of the capital Algiers. It is located 30 km from the capital and covers an area of 3000 ha, located in the urban perimeters of the towns Mahelma and Rahmania fixed by their master plans. This city aims, as originally planned through studies, to be a smart city that contains in addition to the function of residence, and at the same time medical, biotechnology, university, research and technological projects (Information and Communication technology and advanced technologies: ICT & AT), conceived in a perspective of sustainable development. However, for a decade, this ambitious project, still under construction, is lagging a delay comparing to what was planned in the context of the studies. And as a result, a review of what has been done to date is needed. This article explains, first, how and to what extent the project of this new city will reduce, in practical terms, the pressure on Algiers and to achieve, at the same time, the perennity and the sustainable development of the urban space of Sidi A. Allah through the critical reading of the superstructure and infrastructure programs conceived for the city. In other words, may Sidi A. Allah be considered as a sustainable city at a time when shortcomings persist, not meeting the international standards set for sustainable cities. In the second step, the present paper highlights the real causes responsible of the delay in the implementation of this project and proposes, at the end, recommendations to remedy the studied situation.