One Year Delay in Partial Reopening of Makariou Avenue Sparks Criticism from Local Business Groups
A year after the Nicosia Municipal Council's decision to partially reopen Makariou Avenue to all vehicles, implementation has yet to begin, drawing strong criticism from the Joint Platform for the Struggle to Revive the Urban Commercial Core of Every City. The Platform accuses the city administration of being bogged down by bureaucracy and ideological rigidity, claiming these factors are suffocating the Historic Commercial Centre by keeping major streets closed.
The Platform highlights that the area has become a 'dead zone' with about two-thirds of shops empty due to restricted access, and they warn that this impacts small businesses negatively. They also criticized recent government policies, including a recent exemption granted to a new mall in Limassol, arguing it undermines historic commercial centers.
While the Parliamentary Transport Committee has expressed support for reopening, the Platform says other long-term plans for mobility and infrastructure remain unfulfilled and delayed. Deputy Mayor Chrysanthos Fakas acknowledged a planning error, while Mayor Charalambos Prountzos's concerns about returning European funding were challenged by the Platform. The majority of Nicosia residents reportedly favor restoring two-way traffic on the southern section of Makariou Avenue.
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