Major squares in downtown Cairo like Talaat Harb and Abdel Moneim Riad would be lit by laser on Thursday which marks the opening of the New Suez Canal, a local official said Monday.

The head of Cairo's western neighborhood Yasin Abdel Bari made his remarks while inspecting the downtown area.

Egyptian flags would be flying on the top of many bridges in the area on Thursday, he said.

The New Suez Canal will massively increase the capacity of the existing canal and offer an important chance to boost the country’s struggling economy.

The 72-kilometer new project involves a 37-kilometer new waterway and deepening and expansion of the existing 145-year-old Suez Canal along a 35-kilometer stretch.