Pafos Press 12 April 2024
The first phase of the Pafos Polis Chrysochous road project from Agia Marinouda to Stroumbi, although it should be completed at the end of the year, 35% of the total work has been completed, while the contractor is asking for an additional 20 million and an extension of another 33 months.
These were heard at the meeting held today Friday at the construction site in the Kallepia area and near the tunnel where works are being carried out for the Paphos, Polis Chrysochous road network as part of a visit by the Transport Committee of the Parliament to the problematic "points" of the Paphos district.
The meeting was attended by all the involved bodies, a delegation of the Transport Committee, the deputies of the Paphos District, the DG of the Department of Public Works Lefteris Eleftheriou and other competent bodies.
After the meeting, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Marinos Mousioutas, stated that they received a thorough briefing from the Director General of the Department of Public Works, Lefteris Eleftheriou, as well as from the other representatives of the government departments on the progress of the project, on the problems that they also exist for the difference that exists between the Executive authority and the construction company regarding the construction of the road.
He continued, "what we all know is that there are contracts that have been signed, that there are procedures in the CC that must be followed, and what we want to send as a message to everyone is that those procedures must be followed to the letter, so that any difference exists to be resolved in the right way and for the project to progress".
Mr. Mousioutas stated that under no circumstances does anyone want such a large project that will provide a better quality of life to the city and province of Paphos to remain unfinished.
The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport then called on the government and the contractor of the project to sit at the negotiation table based on procedures so that the project can be restarted and completed even with the delay.
Mr. Mousioutas clarified that he is not in a position to know if the work was stopped, saying that no workers were seen in the area today, adding, however, that what they want is to follow the strict procedures that exist in the Republic.
Asked about the contractor's demands, the chairman of the Parliament's Transport Committee replied that there is a demand from the contractor for €20 million, stating a series of elements, such as the inappropriateness of the materials, and the storage of the inert material, but also the increase in the cost of some materials due to of the situation in Ukraine.
These, he continued, are matters that were discussed a lot and solutions were given based on the discretion of the Department. We as the Commission continued, "we have mentioned both to the public works and to the contractors that the Commission intends to register based on the procedures of the House the matter before the Transport Committee very soon and there all involved will be invited to express their views".
We wish, he said, to act not as a Court but as a measure of pressure on all, so that this work continues and is completed. We, he stressed, will insist that the project must proceed based on what the contract says." The goal of the Transport Committee's specific visit is to carry out an on-site investigation and record all the issues so that solutions can be launched in the near future, he added.
Mr. Mousioutas stated that this is a difficult and important project, regular meetings are held and their goal is to solve the problems that arise, he concluded.
It is noted that based on the schedule, the first phase from Agia Marinouda to Stroumbi is approximately 15 kilometers long and costs €86 million.
The Mayor of Polis Chrysochous Giotis Papachristofis stated that the company is in consultation with the Department of Public Works and expressed the hope that there will be no further delays. Mr. Papachristofis noted that this is a very important project, especially for the area of the Polis Chrysochous apartment. He also expressed the hope that the issues that have been raised will be resolved and managed. Important for us, he continued, "is the 2nd phase and the connection of Mesogi". According to the timetables, the tender for Phase B should be announced at the end of 2025.
Besides, the president of the Council, Nikos Savvidis, said that the axis of the specific road network was designed 30 years ago and after many problems it was decided to do it. We, he said, as communities, wish for Phase A to be completed and also for Phase B to be announced by the State because the world has been suffering for many years.
The parliamentarians of the district of Paphos Charalambos Pazaros of DISY, Andreas Fakontis of AKEL, Chrysanthos Savvidis of DIKO and Ilias Myrianthous of K.S. EDEK referred to the necessity of the project due to the multiple fatalities that occurred on the specific road network, but also to the fact that the State does not accept blackmail from anyone.
Overpass
In relation to the necessity of creating an overpass on Tassos Papadopoulos Avenue in front of the Apostolos Pavlos High School, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport stated that it is a matter of safety. For us, he continued, "it is important to find a solution to this matter as soon as possible either going with the old competition that was held, or with a new design that will be much cheaper" so he added, "the safety that is above all should exist especially in an area where students circulate, in an area that unfortunately, some years ago a student lost her life". We are, said Mr. Mousioutas, ready as a Committee to help as much as we can so that this project can progress, he concluded.
For his part, the Mayor of Paphos Phaedonas Phaedonos said that the Department of Urban Planning and Housing and the Department of Public Works must take their responsibilities. It has been going on for years, the design of this project has been handed over by the Mayor of Pafos to the relevant agencies. Mr. Phaedonos continued, "it is their responsibility to carry out the specific project", saying that "the specific road is under the responsibility of public works". Therefore, he continued, the public works must immediately announce the tender.
Regarding the high costs cited, the Mayor of Paphos did not disagree that the plans made are costly. However, with a lower budget, under half a million euros for each pedestrian bridge, we can immediately go out to tenders to build them. He also pointed out that the safety of children and the service of parents are among the main priorities not only of the Municipality but also of himself personally and of every citizen. He added that the Municipality of Paphos, by decision of the municipal council, has informed for years, as he said, that 20% of their own contribution is ready at any time to be given to Public projects and to carry out the specific project. We should not discount the issue of children's safety, concluded Mr. Phaedonos.
The committee also inspected the road junction "Biofos" on the Western side road of Paphos, but also went to the "Diplarkatzia" area of the Municipality of Paphos.
The Committee also visited the offices of the Argakas community council for information about the Polis - Argakas road.
