I am here with you today to inaugurate two more important urban planning projects, both for the local community and the wider area of Idali: the Regeneration of squares and streets in the core of the Municipality, as well as the Linear Park and the Pedestrian Bridge on the river Yialia.
Effortlessly, I could characterize these projects as milestone projects for the Municipality of Idali, since they create new standards in development and the improvement of the quality of life of citizens, offering sustainable urban mobility and green development.
Therefore, dear friends, I would like to emphasize my satisfaction, because thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders, the Department of Urban Planning and Zoning (TPO), but especially the Municipality of Idali, we have achieved the completion of these important interventions.
The first of the two projects concerns the Linear Park on the river Gialia.On the one hand, it connects the core of the Municipality with the centre of Pera Chorio Nissou with a pedestrian bridge and on the other hand, with a series of other works along the riverbed, about 1 km long, it beautifies the area. This project is at a cost of €1,059,100.
The natural continuation of this project will be the next phase of 3 km, which the Municipality is already planning, upon completion of which there will be a complete interconnection of the urban cores of Idalios and the Far Village. A project perfectly adapted to the new era that will give you possibilities of movement without the use of energy-intensive and polluting means, hence its designation as a green project. It is important to say that the co-financing of this project has already been secured from European funds of the new programming period, under the Thaleia Programme 2021-2027.
The second project, ladies and gentlemen, concerns the Regeneration of the Idalios Core. We are talking about the first phase of the landscaping of the wider historic core, during which one-way streets were made, regulating and improving traffic, pedestrian streets and squares were created, contributing to the safe movement of pedestrians.
There are two squares that have been constructed. The square of the church of Panagia Evaggelistria and the river square. Two newly created squares flanked by the necessary parking area.
The architectural approach of this redevelopment, prepared by the TPO, exceeds 13 thousand square metres in area and has cost €2,975,000. The project was based on modern concepts of public space construction, respecting traditional architecture, using materials of Cypriot origin, adding seating areas, energy-friendly lighting fixtures, planting trees of Cypriot flora and fully undergrounding the utilities. Such are the interventions and additions that make it a project of exceptional aesthetics, adding to the upgrading of the Centre.
Both these projects were financed 2/3 by national funds (Department of Urban Planning and Zoning) and 1/3 by the Municipality.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am sure that with the completion of the next phases of the projects, the appearance of your Municipality will be radically changed. Because the landscaping of parks and especially of a riverbed are infrastructures which, apart from the obvious contribution to the quality of life of the inhabitants, contribute to the end of arbitrariness, illegalities and the destruction of the environment which today, unfortunately, takes place with the constant dumping of rubble and concrete.
And it is with such projects and similar interventions that in the last 10 years the Government has achieved the total reversal of the poorly built environment in many areas of our country.
Targeted projects, part of a holistic planning of the Ministry of Interior, which have succeeded in revitalizing degraded urban, suburban, but mainly rural areas with absolute respect and protection of our natural and cultural heritage.
Targeted projects, part of a holistic planning of the Ministry of Interior, which have succeeded in revitalizing degraded urban, suburban, but mainly rural areas with absolute respect and protection of our natural and cultural heritage.
At the moment, the three-year development programme of the Ministry of Interior 2021-2023 includes projects of such importance, which are either already being implemented or are being promoted throughout the territory, with a total expenditure of more than €785 million.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight that the tenders for the construction of these projects were announced by the Municipality itself as the Contracting Authority. And this is extremely important. It is the implementation of our new policy with the aim and objective of speeding up the implementation of such projects by delegating these responsibilities to the Local Authorities. Those Local Authorities that responded positively to our call and declared their readiness and ability to undertake, on the basis of specific procedures, the supply and construction of projects, these have been assigned to them. And the benefit for the citizens is enormous. Shortening the times for implementation and completion of projects.
And I am pleased to say that your Municipality, under the guidance of our friend Mayor Leontes Kallenos, is one of the Local Authorities that made use of this right, and as a result, today we are inaugurating these projects.
Dear Mayor, dear Councillors, my warmest congratulations. You are actively demonstrating that you are ready for the transition to the new era of local government, where synergies must prevail, always in the interests of the citizen.
And I would like to take this opportunity to stress again that we are already in the era of transition to the new era of local government. In spite of grumbling and some isolated reactions, the river is not turning back. Local government reform is now a reality, since the modernized legislative framework has been passed, and in June 2024 citizens will enjoy services under the new local government schemes. The government and political parties have shown that when there is consensus, reforms become reality. And undoubtedly the big winner from this development is the citizen himself who, among other things, now gains the right to participate in decision-making.
From June 2024, the Municipality of Idali is growing as it merges with the neighbouring communities of Alambra, Libia, Nissou, Pera Chorio and Potamia, which are expected to give it the momentum it needs to be able to provide improved and more efficient services to the citizens of the new municipality of South Nicosia - Idali.
From June 2024, the Municipality of Idali is growing, as it merges with the neighbouring communities of Alambra, Libia, Nissou, Pera Chorio and Potamia, which are expected to give it the momentum it needs to be able to provide improved and more efficient services to the citizens of the new municipality of South Nicosia - Idali.
We may have made the reform a reality, but this would not have been possible without the cooperation and support of the Local Authorities. It is for this reason that I feel the need to express a big thank you to my friend the Mayor and the rest of the Local Authorities, Councillors, Parish Councillors and Community Councillors for their co-operation and their vision for projects and initiatives that they undertake which contribute to the progress and prosperity of the residents of your Municipality.
But I would also like to thank the staff of the Municipality, as well as the staff of the Planning and Zoning Department who were responsible for the coordination and monitoring of this project, the government agencies and the various departments that contributed to its implementation, as well as the construction companies MILTIADES NEOPHYTOY Ltd, which had the construction responsibility of the core redevelopment, and the company M.
I would like to assure you that the Government, the Ministry of Interior and I personally will continue to work in close cooperation with the Local Authority, so that such projects that change our Cyprus and contribute to the well-being of our citizens are carried out.
I would like to assure you that the Government, the Ministry of Interior and I personally will continue to work in close cooperation with the Local Authority, so that such projects that change our Cyprus and contribute to the well-being of our citizens are carried out.
Thank you.
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