Cyprus President announced a projects amounting to €173.9 million in a bid to boost economic activity in the city of Nicosia.
The projects were announced during a meeting Thursday between President Anastasiades, the Mayors of Nicosia Municipalities, Nicosia MPs, community leaders and other stakeholders. This was the second meeting with local authorities following a similar meeting in Pafos.
“The promotion of these projects would significantly contribute in economic growth and improving the citizens` quality of life, as well as job creation,” President told the meeting.
Anastasiades, who assumed office in March 2013, said he could not announce these projects earlier as the state was at the brink of a disorderly default and could not borrow from internatinal markets since May 2011.
He said the projects were selected on the basis of their maturity, that is, the fact that the projects received the necessary licenses and a tender can be launched immediately.
The projects in Nicosia municipality include the reconstruction of the commercial roads of Makariou, Evagorou and Stasikratous with a cost of €28.8 million, the reconstruction of Makariou and Kallipoleos Avenues which will be turned into one-way streets with a cost of €5.9 million, as well as the construction of the Nicosia network of cycling routes also amounting to €5.9 million.
These projects are part of the Nicosia mobility plan and are expected to begin by the end of the year.
The Nicosia projects also includes the reconstruction of Omirou Avenue and the creation of an underground parking amounting to €10 million, the reconstruction of the Stasinou avenue with a cost of €15.6 million and the restoration of the Public Modern Arts Gallery amounting to €2.9 milllion.
The old Municipal Theatre will be restored under the design and build method with a a funding of €9 million, while €0.5 million are provided for the beautification of the area of the old GSP Stadium and restoration of the old building of the Secretariat and the Ministry of the Interior at a cost of €4.9 million.
The project list also includes the restoration and reconstruction of the Pancyprian Gymnasium of Nicosia, a school founded in 1812, at cost of €9.4 million.
Anastasiades said a architectural tender will be launched in 2016 for the new Archeological Museum to be constructed in the old Nicosia General Hospital with a total cost of €50 million.
Concerning Strovolos municipality, the President announced the reconstruction of Tseriou Avenue and its connection with the Avenues of Strovolou and Spyrou Kyprianou with a cost of €8 million.
The list also includes the drying of Climos river with a cost of €2 million, while in Aglanzia Municipality the Aglantzia Avenue as well as parts of the Larnaca and Ammohostou Avenues will be improved with a cost of €15.8 million.
President Anastasiades also announced projects in Nicosia`s communities, such as the Regional Elderly House in Palehori, amounting to €2.7 million, that will cover the needs of regional communities, as well as the widening of the Kampia-Analiontas – Mathiatis – Sias road with a cost of €1.2 million.
Furthermore, the President announced the construction a new building Morphou Police Department located in Evrihou amounting to €3.3 million, anti-flood works in the industrial area of Pera Horion Nisou with a cost of €1 million and the construction of the Solea regional sewage system with a cost of €15 million.
The President announced utility projects for Nicosia, a wastewater treatment and recycled water installation for West Nicosia amounting to €6.5 million, the extension and restoration of the Central Prisons with a cost of €.9.7 million.