Nicosia tackles surge in abandoned vehicles across the city

Nicosia Municipality is actively working to remove thousands of abandoned vehicles littering the city’s streets, open areas, and private property. According to Mayor Charalambos Prountzos, municipal authorities have already successfully removed 2,300 vehicles, but an estimated 4,000 additional units remain abandoned across various locations, ranging from side roads to empty fields.

The presence of these vehicles creates significant safety and environmental concerns, acting as a potential fire hazard and a source of pollution. Investigations into the phenomenon suggest that owners often abandon cars after failed attempts to sell them in open spaces, leading to vandalism, parts theft, and structural damage. Other vehicles are discarded by owners who deem repair costs to be economically unfeasible. Panikos Konstantinou, deputy mayor of the Egkomi district, noted that because the municipality lacks an internal removal service, the city relies on an annual tender process to contract private companies for the disposal operation. Efforts to clear the remaining vehicles are currently ongoing across the municipal districts.