Filenews 6 January 2023
125 systems with smart lights are expected to be installed in Nicosia and Limassol, in order to decongest and improve the traffic problem that exists, said the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos.
In statements following the consecration of the waters in the port of Ayia Napa on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany, Mr. Karousos wished "next year this important day, this celebration to be celebrated in a free and reunited Cyprus and of course in our metropolis which is none other than the city of Famagusta with all the honours, as it deserves."
Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Karousos said that "in a few days the Ministry of Transport will announce the offer for the installation of smart lights, essentially intelligent transport systems, in 125 locations in Nicosia and Limassol. Essentially, in these 125 points, traffic will be controlled through sensors and artificial intelligence, since they will communicate with each other".
We estimate, he continued, "that based on the experience that exists abroad, there will be a benefit to the traffic that will range between 10% – 35% depending on the point and the particularities of each point". That is, he added, "for everyone to understand how the system will work, it will be like having 125 digital traffic wardens, who will take the data, analyze it and accordingly leave the priority they need at every point."
He also noted that "we have tried something similar at the Agia Fyla roundabout in Limassol, where we had a reduction, an improvement of more than 50%".
Mr. Karousou also stated that in the measures we have for traffic, it is of course the construction of road networks, such as the perimeter, which will reduce cars at the entrance of Nicosia by 25%, it is Ippokratous - Argyroupolis, which we have signed, that will come to add another percentage to this at 25%.
Moreover, he continued, "it is Alexandroupolis in Strovolos that will also be announced in the coming months and will decongest the center of Strovolos by 70%". Of course, the Minister of Transport noted, "technology is coming, which will contribute another 10"-35% to the improvement of traffic, along with flexible hours and some other things, which we have advanced".
Asked whether it was random to choose the locations where the smart lights will be placed, the Minister of Transport said that the choice was made by the Department of Public Works in cooperation with the Police. "These are points that are main, they are important that have traffic and we think that they are the ones that we need to install this system", he said and noted that "80 are in Nicosia and the remaining 45 in Limassol".
Asked whether the smart lights that will be installed in Nicosia and Limassol will be piloted and then installed throughout Cyprus, Yiannis Karousos replied in the negative and added that "the offer is normal". This system, he said, has existed in other countries for many, many years. "It is an integrated solution, which based on the statistics that exist, where similar systems have been installed abroad, the benefit in traffic ranges between 10" and reaches up to 35%", concluded Mr. Karousos.
