Omirou parking open from Friday

The new municipal parking on Omirou Avenue opens to the public on Friday and will be free during the first month, Nicosia municipality announced on Thursday.

The parking, located under the avenue, includes 147 slots including eight for people with disabilities.

Part of the project also includes public bathrooms on the west part of the D’Avilla moat as well as stairs and elevators leading to the bridge of the Eleftheria Square.

On the occasion of the operation of the new municipal underground parking, Nicosia’ s mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis said the public would now have easier access to the old city by crossing the moat under the bridge of the square.

“After the completion of the works in the commercial triangle of Stasikratous and the surrounding streets, the re-opening of Kiriakou Matsi and Kallipoleos Avenue, Omirou parking will significantly facilitate access to the capital’s centre,” he said.

The final electromechanical inspections and tests in the fountains of the moat, deck floor lights and the D’Avila elevator will be completed in the new year, the announcement said.

At the same time, in the moat, final works will be carried out on the marble sculpture under the bridge and in the interior of the cafeteria, the snack bar and the two kiosks, while the tender for the restaurants is pending.

“The heart of the capital is gaining momentum, the neighbourhoods are being upgraded,” Yiorkadjis said and called on the residents of Nicosia to proud of the city.

The project has been co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Business Competitiveness and Sustainable Development Programme 2014 – 2020), the State Budget and the Municipality of Nicosia.

Brussels has given Nicosia extended leeway for the completion of the Eleftheria Square project, which is years behind completion.

As long as the protracted project is completed by 2023, funding from Brussels should remain secure, and even if this deadline is not met, another two-year extension might be possible but not with funding from the bloc however, an EU official said in 2020.

The Eleftheria Square redevelopment, which was launched in 2011 and was to be completed in 2013.

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