Delay in reopening Makarios Avenue sparks criticism from Nicosia business groups

One year after the Nicosia Municipal Council voted on May 15, 2025, to partially reopen Makarios Avenue to vehicle traffic, the decision remains unimplemented. The Joint Platform for the Struggle to Revive the Urban Commercial Core has publicly condemned the delay, accusing the city government of bureaucratic inertia and ideological fixation. Business owners argue that the continued restrictions have turned the area into a “dead zone,” claiming that two out of every three shops along the street are now empty.

Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos addressed the situation by stating that the current administration is attempting to navigate the implementation of the council’s decision without jeopardizing European funding. He noted that the original traffic restrictions were part of a broader Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan established by the previous municipal council. The mayor explained that his own proposal to amend these regulations was modified by the council, and the current focus is on finding a legal way forward that ensures public funds do not have to be repaid to the European Union. The issue remains unresolved, with local businesses continuing to pressure the municipality to expedite the reopening of the avenue to two-way traffic on its southern side.