State fast-tracks new public works

PROJECTS worth €17 million will soon begin in Famagusta and Paphos districts, as part of the government’s programme of infrastructure development projects.

Contracts for the projects were signed yesterday at the Communications Ministry, covering the refurbishment of Paralimni-Dherynia road at a cost of €11.3 million, the construction of a new network of approach-roads to the Ayia Napa marina (€2.6 million), and the construction of a sea-wall and sea-break in Chrysochous Bay (€3 million).

Communications Minister Nicos Nicolaides pointed out that there are dozens more infrastructure projects scheduled for 2009, involving roads, buildings and coastal areas.

The total budget for projects to be completed over the next few years is more than €300 million, of which €180 million covers the period to the end of 2010.

In the next few months, works will take place to prepare for 29 road projects, each with a budget of over €1 million and amounting to a total of €200 million, and 16 building projects at a total cost of over €100 million will also get under way.

Another significant item is the €7.4 million allocated to direct grants to communities and municipalities, for projects to be carried out up to September 2009.

The Communications Minister said that the aim is to speed up and increase the rate at which these projects are executed. This will be achieved through the adequate staffing of the official departments involved, with plans to fill over 100 new positions with civil engineers, architects and other specialists in relevant fields.

To also help meet this aim, procedures involving various government services will be simplified, and new provisions will be included in standard contracts that will “promote working in parallel shifts”, as Nicolaides put it.

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