Debate continues over reopening Makarios Avenue to traffic in Nicosia

One year after the Nicosia Municipal Council decided on May 15, 2025, to partially reopen Makarios Avenue to vehicular traffic, the project remains stalled. A local advocacy group, the Joint Platform for the Revitalization of the Urban Commercial Core, has criticized the delay, attributing it to bureaucracy and ideological policy choices. Local business owners report severe economic stagnation, noting that two out of every three shops on the street remain vacant, turning the area into a commercial dead zone.

However, the Ministry of Transport has signaled strong opposition to the proposed changes. According to ministry sources, officials refuse to consent to any modifications that could jeopardize European funding and potentially transfer financial penalties to taxpayers. The ministry has also declined to fund the traffic study requested by the Nicosia Municipality. While reports suggest that 70 out of 106 ground-floor units are currently rented, business advocates argue that the restricted access, combined with the closure of Leventi Street, has isolated the city's historic commercial center. The standoff persists as stakeholders continue to demand policy shifts, while the government maintains its refusal to alter the current urban planning scheme.