The acceleration and promotion of strategic development projects in Limassol was at the center of an expanded meeting held on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace, with the participation of the Government and the Municipality of Limassol.
As stated in an announcement by the Limassol Municipality, the focus of the meeting was on Aktaia Odos, the regeneration of the coastal front, major road infrastructure projects, as well as proposals for housing, sustainable mobility and the revitalization of the city center, with the Municipality asking for specific implementation schedules.
The meeting was held in the presence of the Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, the Mayor of Limassol Yiannis Armeftis, as well as the competent ministers and representatives of state services. Participants, among others, were the Minister of Interior Constantinos Ioannou, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeadis, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panagiotou, the Director of the Department of Urban Planning and Housing Kyriakos Koundouros, senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, other ministries and state services involved, as well as officials of the Limassol Municipality.
The meeting was held at the request of the Limassol Municipality, with the aim of coordinating and securing broad government support for the acceleration of important strategic and development projects of the city. During the meeting, the Mayor of Limassol presented the main strategic priorities of the Municipality, placing particular emphasis on the promotion of Aktaia Odos and the elaboration of an integrated plan for the regeneration of the coastal zone between the old and the new port of the city.
In this context, the next steps for the relocation of the companies operating in the area of Karnagio were discussed, with the aim of the environmental, aesthetic and functional upgrade of the area, the improvement of the connection of the city center with the new port and the creation of a new, unified coastal front.
Particular reference was made to strategic infrastructure projects and the need to accelerate the procedures for the implementation of the following projects:the announcement of tenders for Evagora Laniti Street, including the necessary anti-flood works,
the unification of Franklin Roosevelt Avenue with the waterfront and the creation of Peace Square, and the promotion of the second and third phases of the redevelopment of Agia Fylaxeos Street
The representatives of the Municipality stressed the need for the necessary procedures for all three projects to proceed as soon as possible, so that their announcement can be launched within 2026 or during 2027 at the latest.
The Mayor of Limassol underlined that dealing with the traffic problem is the main responsibility of the Government, and of course requires the close cooperation, joint planning and substantial assistance of the Local Government. He stressed, therefore, the need for immediate coordination of all the Ministries and services involved to promote the necessary infrastructure and projects.
The proposal of the Municipality for the preparation of a comprehensive Master Plan for the wider area of the Old Hospital, the Central Police Station, the Post Office, the neighbouring state plots and the water tower was also presented. It was noted that the proposal aims to revitalize the center of Limassol, through the rational utilization of state property and the creation of modern infrastructure.
At the same time, the need for substantial national support for Limassol, in its capacity as a Mission Labelled City of the European Union, was underlined. The Municipality called for the full utilization of this status, in order to support the national and local goals for climate neutrality, sustainable mobility, energy transition and environmental resilience of the city.
The meeting also presented the proposals of the Limassol Municipality to address the housing problem through the use of modern urban planning tools. Among other things, the possibility of transferring development rights between municipal parcels was discussed, with the aim of creating a model affordable housing project and the optimal utilization of municipal real estate.
The presentation was followed by a constructive discussion, during which the competent Ministries and state services took a position on the requests and proposals of the Municipality. At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to continue the coordination between the Municipality of Limassol and the Deputy Minister to the President and the competent Ministries. The Municipality is now waiting for the determination of specific actions and implementation schedules for the issues discussed.
The Mayor of Limassol reiterated both the need and the will of the Municipality for close and productive cooperation with the Government, with the aim of accelerating strategic projects that will enhance development, sustainable mobility, environmental resilience
