President Nicos Anastasiades on Thursday announced newinfrastructure projects for Nicosia worth some €174 million.
The 28 projects include redevelopment of the capital’s mainshopping area between Makarios Avenue, Evagorou and Stasikratous Streets,landscaping the old GSP stadium, and upgrading various other road networks.
The president said a competition will also be announced forthe new museum that will be constructed at the site of the old Nicosia generalhospital.
The announcement was made during a meeting at thepresidential palace with the mayors of Nicosia municipalities, MPs and othertown officials.
Work is expected to start this year or early in 2016 at thelatest.
“I know the problems faced by the municipalities and thecommunities… I want to emphasise that our effort is to solve as many problemsas possible and announce as many projects as possible,” Anastasiades said.
He added that it would be impossible to satisfy all thelocal authorities’ demands under the current economic conditions.
The projects include €28.8m for Makarios-Evagorou-Stasikratous,€5.9m for Makarios-Kallipoleos, €5.9m for bicycle routes, €9m for therefurbishment of the old municipal theatre, €10m for the reconstruction ofOmirou Avenue and the creation of an underground parking lot, and €9.4m for therestoration of the Pancyprian Gymnasium.
Some €8m have been earmarked to upgrade Tseri Avenue and anadditional €15.8m for Aglandjia Avenue.
A decision has been taken, the president said, to announce acompetition inside 2016 for the construction of a new archaeological museumworth €50m.
“We are going ahead with a project that the state has owedto our country for years. It is a work of honour to our country’s 8,000 yearsof history,” he said.
The government has also decided to resolve the water supplyproblem faced by Nicosia by transferring water from the desalination unit atVassilikos, Anastasiades said.
He added that despite the difficulties, the currentgovernment has completed €47.5m of projects in Nicosia. More projects worthsome €102m were currently underway, he said.