THE TRAFFIC police department has outlined radical plans to lessen traffic congestion in Nicosia, which it has presented to the Communications Ministry for approval.
The study is the result of a efforts to discover the main causes of congestions and what measures can be taken to find a solution.
Head of traffic police Ioannis Yiaouris told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that police had started tackling the problem a month ago. “We have placed traffic wardens to control the traffic in the mornings. We also had a helicopter patrol the skies and record the cars below with video cameras,” said Yiaouris.
“We sent the Ministry of Communications a study presenting problems and solutions to the traffic build up. We the police alone cannot solve the problem and we are waiting for a response from the Ministry to have talks.”
Yiaouris said the police were continuing to place officers at specific points on the roads during peak times of traffic. “However we cannot change the course of the traffic lights as there is a central system controlling the lights. If tampered with, we would affect all traffic lights.”
Yiaouris said no date had yet been set for talks between police and the ministry.
Some of the suggestions are to construct more side roads and to convert certain main roads into one-way. Traffic police also believe children should be transported to and from school by bus rather than by their parents.
A suggestion that heavy goods vehicles not be allowed to use city roads during peak hours of 6-9am and 1-3pm would lessen the traffic, while police are even calling on the government to consider new times for the opening and closing of shops, offices and public services.
A recent meeting held at police headquarters recognised the situation was only getting worse and that long-term and short-term measures would have to be implemented to solve the problem.
Police also say there are also not enough parking spaces in town, forcing people to park on pavements, and blocking the roads. It is estimated that 200,000 cars circulate every day on Nicosia’s roads, some of which were built decades ago for only a fraction of the traffic.
