Nicosia faces deadlock over reopening Makarios Avenue to traffic

A year after the Nicosia Municipal Council decided on May 15, 2025, to partially reopen Makarios Avenue to vehicle traffic, the implementation remains stalled. The Joint Platform for the Revitalisation of the Urban Commercial Core of Every City continues to press for the move, claiming that restrictions have turned the area into a dead zone where two out of every three shops remain vacant. Proponents argue that restoring two-way traffic is essential for the economic revival of the historic shopping district.

Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos maintains that the issue is complex and cannot be reduced solely to traffic flow. He emphasized that the council must avoid any changes that would trigger the repayment of European Union funds provided under the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. The Ministry of Transport has further complicated the situation by refusing to fund a requested study into the proposed changes. Consequently, while the municipality aims to honor the council’s decision, it remains focused on legal and financial compliance to prevent a fiscal penalty for local taxpayers.