Paphos People

CONSTRUCTION of the Paphos-Polis Chrysochous highway will start in early 2009, provided there are no unexpected obstacles, the Communications Minister said yesterday.

Minister Nicos Nicolaides, who attended a discussion on the issue at the House Communications Committee, assured deputies that recent media reports over scrapping plans to build the new road were completely unsubstantiated.

“What is actually taking place is an evaluation of all the big developmental works that are pending to find the best possible ways to go ahead with them,” said Nicolaides.

Deputies Andreas Fakontis of AKEL, Antonis Antoniou of DIKO and Fidias Sarikas of EDEK had tabled for discussion the reasons for the delays in re-opening tenders for the new highway.

The deputies called on the government to start the tender procedure as soon as possible so construction could begin, mainly to make the lives of nearby residents easier, but also because the more the works were delayed, the costlier it would be for the state.

Polis Mayor Angelos Georgiou told the meeting residents were concerned about the delay in building the road, which he said was important not just for the local area, but also for the island’s general traffic system.

He added that it would contribute to the development of the entire district of Paphos.

According to the relevant plans submitted to Parliament by the Communications Ministry in October 2007, the new highway will have four lanes all the way up to Stroumbi village and will continue with two lanes up to Polis Chrysochous.

The plans also leave room for the possibility of creating four lanes all the way to Polis, if it is considered financially feasible.

Committee Chairman Zacharias Koulias of DIKO said it was important to hear the views of Finance Minister Charilaos Stavrakis, who was invited to attend yesterday’s meeting but sent a spokesman as he had other engagements.


Koulias invited the minister to attend the committee as soon as he could to offer his input.

As the session drew to an end, Minister Nicolaides was keen to point out that the Demetris Christofias government made its decisions collectively and with absolute transparency.

“The government started planning this construction in 1997. However such grand works are not executed at the speed they should be,” said Nicolaides.

He said the government was awaiting the response of the Tender Review Authority, which is currently examining two objections by applying companies.

“As soon as this is done and depending on the outcome, the government will move ahead with signing the contract, which is expected to happen in around six months’ time. It will take another four to five months for construction to begin,” Nicolaides said.

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