Nicosia residents protest over Western Nicosia urban development plans

Residents of Western Nicosia, represented by the 'Humane Engomi' initiative, expressed significant concerns to the Parliamentary Transport Committee regarding new urban development projects. Led by Louiza Mavrommatis, the group warned that planned commercial and residential constructions, including hotels and high-rise buildings near the Kykkos Metochi, threaten to increase traffic congestion and degrade the quality of life. A primary focus of the opposition is the proposed creation of the four-lane Makedonias Avenue, which residents fear will cut through established neighborhoods like Parisinos and Montparnasse, creating unnecessary transit routes.

The Parliamentary Transport Committee, following a proposal by MP Eirini Charalambidou, reviewed the licensing process for these developments to determine if sufficient impact studies were conducted. While local authorities remain concerned about the impact, the Town Planning Department clarified that the master plan for the Kykkos monastery land, submitted in 2018, underwent extensive review by traffic authorities before receiving approval in 2023. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between urban expansion needs and the preservation of residential infrastructure in the capital.