Nicosia: The projects of a metropolitan park at the state fair and the use of SOPAZ venue will change the picture of the capital, Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos said, during a press conference presenting what has been achieved in the last two years.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Prountzos noted that these two major projects can decisively influence the development of the capital. He stated that the park will be a real metropolitan one, a green spot in the capital, adding that a common understanding has already been formed between the Municipality, the government, and involved bodies on the direction of the project.
He said that a public consultation, the preparation of a master plan, and the architectural competition will follow. Referring to the SOPAZ development, the Mayor said that this is the largest development project in the city and possibly the largest in Cyprus.
According to Prountzos, the viability study shows that the economic activity that can be generated by the project approaches pound 500 million. The project will include exhibition and conference centers.
Referring to the latest reform of the local authorities, the Mayor said that merging together four large urban municipalities in Nicosia was unprecedented in the history of the Republic of Cyprus. The Mayor also referred to financial figures, indicating that the minimum real needs of the new municipality amount to pound 35 million, against a state grant of pound 22.5 million for the period 2025-2026.
The municipal authority is requesting additional support to finance a voluntary staff retirement plan, manage the pension fund deficit, estimated at pound 50 million, and strengthen the organization's liquidity, he said. Despite the financial difficulties, the Mayor spoke of substantial financial consolidation. The fiscal deficit was reduced by approximately 80% in two years through rationalization of expenses, reorganization of services, and expansion of the tax base.
Regarding citizen services, Prountzos presented figures on digital transformation, noting that more than 22,500 citizen requests were submitted through the Novoville platform and a resolution rate exceeded 77%. At the same time, the Municipality adopted a Participation Charter, strengthening public consultation processes and citizen participation in decision-making through neighborhood committees and other participatory tools.
Smart city applications are also being promoted, including geographic information systems, smart parking, and waste management platforms. Particular emphasis was also placed on the Municipality's social policy. According to figures presented, more than 3,500 citizens were given assistance through social programs in 2025, while hundreds of citizens benefited from exemptions and discounts based on social and economic criteria.
The budget for social services is approaching pound 3 million, with the municipal authority indicating that the goal is to strengthen the social protection network and support vulnerable groups. In the areas of cleanliness and public health actions, the municipality authorities removed thousands of bulky objects and more than 2,000 abandoned vehicles.
He further referred to actions with the aim of enhancing the capital's international presence, noting that Nicosia is now actively participating in European networks and initiatives. As regards actions for the environment, more than 22,000 new trees were planted, green spaces were upgraded, and the municipality participated in European programs for climate resilience.
At the same time, reference was made to the creation of the "Lefkothea" citizens' energy community, the first Cypriot energy community to receive approval from the European Energy Community. During the presentation, the Mayor said that real estate sales increased by 13.6%, while transactions recorded an increase of approximately 30% compared to the previous year.
Prountzos also referred to the course of revitalization of the historic center and Makariou avenue, noting that the interventions of recent years have contributed to the return of business activity and the attraction of new investments. The Mayor also referred to the new hotel developments, the redevelopment of the old GSP stadium, and the operation of the Nicosia branch of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the old part of the city, with the Municipality estimating that this will contribute to economic activity and the overall revitalization of the area.
Projects are underway in all other municipalities of the urban Nicosia area, including the reconstruction of the historical cores of Aglantzia and Engomi, the creation of student dorms, projects in refugee settlements, the upgrading of sports and cultural infrastructure, as well as interventions in the city center and in basic road networks. The Mayor referred to the issue of traffic, underlining that the capital urgently needs investments in bus lanes, sidewalks, cycling infrastructure, and sustainable mobility networks.