Paphos undergoes multi-million facelift

[memory man]

Paphos is in for a facelift with its fair share of new developments while getting smarter with digital projects worth tens of millions of euros nearing completion or in the making.

Once lagging behind other towns in Cyprus regarding development activity, Paphos is catching up with the construction industry picking up from where it left off before the coronavirus outbreak with the municipality pushing ahead.

Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos told the Financial Mirrors that while the private sector is gaining speed, resuming projects in building villas and luxury apartments connected to the Citizenship for Investment scheme, the municipality is putting forward its own pioneering projects.

“At the moment there are 10 major projects that will radically change the way the town looks and function, including a facelift of the public transport network,” said Phedonos.

The Paphos Mayor said these projects will not only add value and upgrade the tourist experience but also entirely change the town’s landscape.

“There are currently 10 development project in the pipeline, worth tens of millions of euros, which will help Paphos change gear.”

The municipality has taken on a €9 mln project to connect the town’s archaeological sites with a 14 km long linear park to upgrade the visitor’s experience.

More than €12 mln is to be spent on restructuring Hellas, Griva Dhigenis and Neophytou Nikolaides avenues with a budgeted expenditure of €8.3 mln.

Psarochori, the traditional centre of Kato Paphos will be revamped at a cost of €3.8 mln.

“Development is not only about building new roads and sidewalks, it is about offering a better quality of life to our citizens and upgrading tourists’ experience.”

The municipality is to invest €7.6 mln in upgrading public transport infrastructure in Paphos and Yeroskipou which includes the creation of a Central Bus Station in Karavella, the creation of 2 smaller transit hubs at the port and in the Tombs of the Kings area.

The public transport network will also install 196 “smart” bus stops in Paphos and Yeroskipou.

Smart bus stops inform passengers on the real-time arrival of their bus.

Phedonos told the Financial Mirror that a total of €20 mln will be spent on making the town smarter.

Smart street lighting and smart poles collecting information on the environment and the weather are to be installed.

The smart poles will be able to pick-up basic information regarding weather conditions such as temperatures, humidity levels, wind speed and direction.

They will also be able to collect data on more complicated issues such as noise and air pollution, while also providing internet access to drivers on the roads by acting as Wi-Fi access points.

“A novelty to be introduced, making life easier for citizens and municipality workers in the adoption of a digital Geographic Information System (GIS) which will be a virtual map of the town with information on almost everything in the town,” said Phedonos.

The system will be able to provide a real-time x-ray map of Paphos giving real-time information on water consumption at green spots, archaeological parks, the progress of building permits applications, and even parking places.

The project is to cost some €360,000.

GIS will interact with another application called ‘Lora’ which will feed mobile applications with data which can be used by citizens to settle bills with the municipality and find a free parking spot.”

The mayor said the town hall will be spending some €600,000 on developing smart applications.

“Our aim is to make people’s lives easier creating an online one-stop-shop, where citizens and foreign investors will be able to carry out most of their daily tasks online.”

https://www.financialmirror.com/2020/07 ... -facelift/

[Kili01]

Having read through the above, it's mind boggling what the Mayor has in the pipe line for Paphos! Is Psarochori another name for the area around Paphos Harbour? If it is, it seems that it will be 'revamped' again. I'm intrigued by the idea of smart poles and smart lighting in the streets, sounds amazing. I hope that this abundance of new technology won't encourage drivers to use their mobiles more than before while driving..
And where is the new 14Km Linear park? Interesting times ahead for us all! Do we expect more unannounced 'traffic diversions' all over Kato Paphos!
The sad thing is that the construction of more luxury villas and apartments for the Citizenship for Investment' scheme is going ahead full steam. So expect to see more concrete, glass and steel all along the remaining untouched so far, coastline to Ag Georgios and beyond.

Dee

[LouiseCastricum]

I love your positive attitude Dee

[Dominic]

Just be thankful you only have to read about it on here.

Regarding new developments, there are loads of houses being built in the empty bit of Universal, plus business parks aplenty allocated in Geroskipou.

[Kili01]

Louise,
I tried to be positive! Its wait and see time really as without seeing any plans Its impossible to form a definite impression. I hope that all the Mayor's plans will be an enhancement to Paphos!
But I've never liked the great hunk of concrete on the roundabout by the end of the motorway and I'm not the only one!

Dee

[trevnhil]

I quite like it now.. But I remember I was against it when it was disclosed what the cost would be... And no I have forgotten now

[Dominic]

The roundabout looks 1000 times better than it did before.

[Aargent]

Louise,
I tried to be positive! Its wait and see time really as without seeing any plans Its impossible to form a definite impression. I hope that all the Mayor's plans will be an enhancement to Paphos!
But I've never liked the great hunk of concrete on the roundabout by the end of the motorway and I'm not the only one!

Dee

But you have formed a definite impression " Expect to see "

[Jim B]

I would like to see the fountain on the roundabout by the hospital back working, I wonder what the problem is?

[Kili01]

Yes, Jim, I would too. It used to look so pretty at night when driving past as the colours changed In the fountain. There must be a problem with the electronics Plus perhaps the water pump isn't working. Was it maintained properly according to the manufacturers guarantee? Who knows.

Dee

[galexinda]

A shame a few million Euros can't be allocated to Paphos General Hospital which desperately needs upgrading.

[Kili01]

Yes, you are right! The hospital should be a no 1 priority above smart this and that.. and some new technology and facilities at the hospital would be very welcome too.

Dee

[Jim B]

I guess the General was designed before the influx of foriegners and was basically overwhelmed by the millennium property boom.
I was told by a member of our Cypriot family who is very active in politics here that the plan is to bring the Private Hospitals into use by GESy to perform oprations and take in patients that would otherwise go to the General.
This has already started and one of the largest Private Hospitals has recently signed up with GESY. Now you can get blood tests done at Bio-Laboritories or Evangelismos.
What this means for the General I'm not sure, possibly closure or as suggested, a total refurbishment.

Jim

[mike strand2]

The mayor has just recently criticised the GH and called for it to be upgraded. Nothing to do with the Municipality; it's the responsibility of the Health Minister.

In my 11 years in Pafos, I've seen many improvements. What I have also seen, is that whilst there is capital money to carry out the improvements, there appears to be no pot of money for routine maintenance! Just look at the seaside walk around the lighthouse; rubbish bins that have rusted to dust, Seating pods that again are rusting away and with boards missing! With a little pot of money each year these could still look smart instead of tatt!

[josef k]

I agree with the above comment regarding the walkway. It looks a real mess now and gives a bad impression to tourists (if ever they come).

Another place screaming for attention, for the same reason, is the municipal market in the old town. Some good work has been done around the perimeter, but the main corridors are a disgrace.

Nevertheless, I applaud the mayor for the work so far, and the work in the pipeline.

[Mirek]

Hopefully they will do something, when the Kato Paphos work is done, about the middle section of the old "Bar Street" that has been more or less abandoned