Paphos-Polis talks ‘proceeding apace’

NEGOTIATIONS for the construction of a Paphos-Polis highway were continuing in earnest yesterday, four months after the government announced a “big push” to put the project back on track.

Communication and public works minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis was reluctant to comment on the ongoing negotiations, but said that an announcement would be made as soon as the government and the construction consortium reached an agreement.

Ministry Permanent Secretary Makis Constantinides, who is also head of the project’s management committee declined to comment while the negotiations were ongoing.

However, lead partner in the consortium of two companies- Austrian construction firm Strabag SE – did gave a positive assessment of the talks’ progress, describing them as “swift” and “efficient”.

Strabag spokeswoman Diana Klein said “As the Paphos-Polis Project is currently under negotiation, construction works have not commenced yet.”

Asked when they might begin building the road, Klein said: “Since the negotiations with the government are progressing swiftly and efficiently, we are confident that concluding the contract is achievable in near future, and the works shall commence promptly thereafter.”

Much of the negotiation is likely to centre on the repayment schedule for the project, estimated to cost around €500 million.

Under the tender conditions, construction would take a maximum of four-and-a-half years from the date of signing the agreement. The first payment to the contractor would be made one year after completion of construction.

The project has been criticised as being exorbitantly expensive for an infrastructure project that would see just eight minutes shaved off the travelling time between Paphos.

Under the plan the road from Paphos to Stroumbi would be four lanes wide, while the rest of the distance, approximately half, would be two lanes.