Turning the capital upside down: Mavrou says more to come

THOUSANDS of people have fled the capital this weekend. Thousands more remain behind in relatively traffic-free streets, which somewhat eases the grief of contending with the major municipality works that are taking place around the city.

The reprieve will not last long. By next month the frustration will return, along with the motorists, and with 20 urban projects on the go, Mayor Eleni Mavrou, in an interview with the Sunday Mail, says it will all be worth it.

“Of course, a lot of the projects are on the verge of completion, so this image is starting to change. But personally, I hope there will continue to be construction projects in various parts of the city for a long time to come, because this means, despite all the delays and inconvenience, that work is being done,” she said.

Since she took office nearly five years ago, Mavrou has spearheaded a series of projects aimed at improving the road network, regenerating traditional centres, building sports facilities, reinforcing derelict buildings, constructing pavements and drains, utilising and redesigning public spaces, and showcasing the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Mavrou said the city does not have the luxury to wait another ten, 20 years and schedule projects one by one, even though it would mean less inconvenience.

“We already have plans to implement five times what we’re seeing today,” she said. “Not doing projects might mean less inconvenience but it also means a city which slowly decays with no effort to bring it to life.

 

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.