Usually, when we refer to local and municipal authorities, the payment of fees and bills, the issuance of permits, bureaucracy and garbage collection come to mind. However, for the large - at least - Municipalities, it is important to create development projects or infrastructure projects, both to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants (after all, when we are talking about large numbers, then this becomes even more imperative), and to attract investors and therefore additional revenue for the city or the province.
At the moment, all the major Municipalities of the country have laid the foundations for the implementation of projects, which will be a milestone in the coming period. We are referring to both infrastructure projects and development projects, which will breathe new life and at the same time create positive prospects for the future. The Municipality of the capital and the Municipalities of Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Paralimni-Deryneia, in cooperation with similar affected Municipalities, intend to change the data soon.
Nicosia Municipality
Two projects, one on each side of the capital, are expected to radically change the course of Nicosia's development. The creation of a metropolitan park in the area of the State Fair and the utilization of SOPAZ will change Nicosia, underlined the Mayor Charalambos Prountzos, in the context of the presentation he made for the report of the two years of the new metropolitan Municipality.
"We are not talking about a little park with plenty of cement. We are talking about a real metropolitan park", said the Mayor of Nicosia about the redevelopment of the State Fair. He added that the space will function as "the first large compact green lung of the capital".
Referring to SOPAZ, the Mayor spoke of "the largest development project in the city and possibly the largest in Cyprus".
"The feasibility study shows that the economic activity that can be generated by the project is close to €500 million," he said, describing it as one of the most important development interventions planned in Cyprus.
"It will completely transform East Nicosia," he said, noting that the development of the area will create new possibilities for housing, business activity and investment. As he mentioned, the planning for the SOPAZ area includes, among other things, the creation of an exhibition and conference center.
Limassol Municipality
Limassol has been described as the Dubai of the Mediterranean. Towers that give a cosmopolitan flavour, a marina of modern standards, a business destination for technology, forex and ship management companies, as well as hotels and high-end restaurants.
So what are the next projects that will contribute to the further development of the city and the improvement of the quality of life of citizens?
The Mayor of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, who recently spoke to Forbes, admitted that the developments and this great development in the city caught those in charge unprepared. "There was no development plan, nor a strategic plan, resulting in serious problems in both traffic and housing."
The next plans of the Municipality include four major projects, which will have a significant impact on the city.
Specifically:
(1) The regeneration and development of Aktia Odos, an area that is expected to attract significant investments.
(2) The creation of a Metropolitan Park on the north side of the city.
(3) The creation of a Green Corridor, with an area of 20 km and
(4) the creation of a Polycentric Transport System. The goal, with the completion of the projects, is to create a common front, with an area of one and a half kilometers, where the traffic will not last more than 15 minutes. "We want to create the 'city of 15 minutes'," said Mr. Armeftis, without cars, but with public transport and pedestrians.
Municipality of Larnaca
The big project and at the same time the big bet for the city and province of Larnaca is none other than the development of the port and the marina. Two years have already passed since the termination of the contract with Kition Ocean Holdings, with Larnaca having not seen, so far, substantial projects in the two infrastructures.
Recently, the chairman of the Development Committee, Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras, said that it was decided that the Ports Authority would undertake all the projects. These will include developments in the port, marina and land area, as well as a plan for the unification of the coastal fronts of Finikoudes and the area of the former refineries.
In particular, as far as the port is concerned, it was decided to upgrade it to a tourist and compatible commercial cargo, which is a long-standing request of Larnaca. Regarding the marina, it was decided to upgrade and expand it, with the capacity to accommodate about 200 boats. ALK has reportedly assured that the necessary resources are available for the implementation of the project. In addition, the operation of the CUT is of enormous importance for the city. The mayor, Andreas Vyras, had described as "historic for Larnaca" the day of signing the agreement with CUT for the construction of the School of Marine Sciences, Technology and Sustainable Development in Mackenzie.
Municipality of Paralimni – Deryneia
Hearing about the "Protaras Riviera" project, one could smile ironically. And this is because we all have in mind the two most famous Rivieras in the world. The Italian Riviera (Riviera ligure), part of the coast of Italy and the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), part of the southern coast of France. But why not "Protaras Riviera"? Think big, is the way of thinking that is absent for many projects, which could turn our country into a point of reference in the Mediterranean.
The Municipality of Paralimni – Deryneia dares to take the big step. With the central name "Protaras Riviera" and the main message "There are reasons to be here every day", the Municipality is attempting to establish itself as one of the most attractive and recognizable Mediterranean destinations.
The new tourist identity essentially functions as a promotional umbrella for the entire Municipality. Through it, Protaras, Kapparis, Pernera, Paralimni, Deryneia, Frenaros and Acheritou will now be projected through a single narrative, which connects the coastal zone with the hinterland and highlights the special characteristics of each area.
In addition, the Municipality is launching a number of projects that exceed €55 million. and will transform Paralimni.
Five of the projects planned in Paralimni according to a report by Natasa Christoforou are:
(a) Renovation of the central square at a cost of €3 million.
(b) Regeneration of the core at a cost of €9 million.
(c) Multi-storey parking lot at a cost of €6.7 million.
(d) Extension of the promenade of Protaras: The fourth phase of the extension will cost €10 million. and is expected to start in 2027. The fifth phase, which was estimated at €7 million, is in the planning stage.
(e) Multipurpose Conference Center: The project, with an estimated cost of €10 million, is in the process of evaluating Consultant Designers.
Municipality of Paphos – The long-suffering project
When we talk about projects in Paphos, most people's minds go to the long-suffering project of Paphos City Road. This is a project of vital importance for the province, which, however, for various reasons, has not been able to be implemented to date.
Two key parameters, however, may contribute to the project moving forward in the near future.
(a) With the expansion of the airport, the expected increase in passenger traffic cannot be supported by the existing road, of specifications of the 60s. Therefore, a new, modern road connecting the airport with Paphos and the tourist areas of Kato Paphos and Coral Bay is considered necessary.
(b) The issue of the creation of a new road access to Paphos International Airport was officially put on the table by the Americans, in relation to the upgrade they are studying for the "Andreas Papandreou" air base. Therefore, it is not excluded that we will soon see this project reheated. In addition, a key pillar of Paphos' economy, the city's airport, is expected to give new impetus at all levels, with the completion of the projects of the second phase.
The planned upgrades include an increase in the airport's terminal capacity by approximately 30%. Finally, the announcement of the marina is a landmark project, which is expected to make the city a top marine and tourist destination. It is a development of 165 thousand square meters, with the capacity to accommodate 1,000 yachts, which will strengthen the economy, create new jobs and upgrade the overall tourism product of the province.
