Cyprus Mail 20 January 2023 - by Nikolaos Prakas
President Nicos Anastasiades inaugurated several multi-million-euro projects in the Polis Chrysochous and Peyia areas on Friday, saying the developments increase prospects for greater economic, cultural and communal development.
“The construction of the new Paphos – Polis Chrysochous highway falls in this exact context, despite any obstacles that some wanted to raise,” he said.
He added that project had been pending for decades.
“When with determination the government wanted to implement it, some well-known and not exceptional, so that I do not go further, considered that the project was unprofitable,” he said.
However, he added that the government achieved the goal of having the project proceed.
Speaking at the ceremony for the start of the works for the €83 million motorway project, Anastasiades said it is one of the biggest development projects of the last decades.
“By facilitating accessibility, moreover, new perspectives are opened up and the conditions are created, among other things, for upgrading the lives of residents, the promotion of the municipality as an attractive place of permanent living and activity for young families, young investors, and entrepreneurs, as well as for dynamic tourism development,” he said.
He added that tied with this new project is an already existing housing scheme for rural areas, which includes Polis Chrysochous and is worth €15 million.
Commenting further on the projects to come to the area, the president said that equally important is the expansion of the Latsi port, which will cost €45 million and create 350 new docking places for ships, including cruise ships.
“Already, the tender for the project designers and the construction works is in progress, and I hope that soon through the completion [of the tender process,] the project will be tendered so that the new construction works in the port will become a reality as soon as possible,” he said.
Anastasiades also welcomed the new point of service for welfare allowances of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare in the municipality, which started operating on January 17.
Regarding other projects, Anastasiades said that approximately €10 million has been invested in the area for the construction of a multipurpose centre in Prodromi, upgrades to the fishing shelter and the beautification of the warehouses of the Cyprus Ports Authority in Latchi, the primary school expansion, beach promenade construction, breakwater creation, and restoration and beautification works for the archaeological sites.
Speaking about upgrades at Polis Hospital, he said that the ward has been expanded to include 11 beds, the A&E department has been staffed, the radiology department extended its operating hours, and the ambulance station has been reinforced.
He added that a further €7 million was given to the revitalisation of Polis Chrysochous, Prodromi, and for the study on the Latchi port.
Speaking in Peyia later, the president presented projects completed in the area.
He went to the village to inaugurate the new cultural centre in a historical building, which cost €1,860,000, while other important requests of the local authority are in the process of being implemented, with a total budget of €6,500,000.
These projects, he said, include the upgrade to Michalakis Kyprianou Avenue, the seaside promenade, and the creation of breakwaters in the Askos area.
