Nicosia mayor renews call to consider tramway

Nicosia, Cyprus. Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos on Tuesday revived the proposal for a tramway in the capital, citing problems with public transport and asking what authorities were waiting for before intervening.

Tram proposal

Prountzos said the tram had been repeatedly discussed without a clear direction, leaving some members of the public disappointed or sceptical. He said a study conducted by Nicosia municipality with a leading transport consultancy firm had found that a tram could be a viable option for high-traffic corridors in Nicosia. He also raised the question of whether it could serve similar corridors in Limassol.

Bus network concerns

The mayor said buses account for no more than 4 to 5 per cent of journeys in Nicosia. Nearly 17 years after the current citywide bus system was introduced, and after expenditure exceeding €1 billion, bus use remains well below targets set in 2020, he said.

Prountzos attributed the shortfall partly to bus contracts that, in his view, do not focus sufficiently on passengers or attracting riders. He also cited a lack of infrastructure, including an effective citywide network of bus lanes, and said spatial planning and urban development had made recent sustainable urban mobility plans obsolete.

He said bus routes’ integration into Google Maps showed that, with few exceptions, bus journeys take twice as long as trips by private car and come at a high cost. While the experience on board is positive, the overall journey falls short, he said.

Divided responsibilities

Prountzos also criticised the division of responsibilities for the bus network. He said local government has little involvement but bears the environmental and political costs.

Bus service contracts are agreed between the transport ministry and private companies without municipal involvement, he said. The public works department manages traffic, while the town planning department oversees critical urban planning projects.