Nicosia shopkeepers report 40% revenue drop due to delayed roadworks on Naxou Street

Shopkeepers on Naxou Street in Nicosia are facing severe financial distress, reporting a revenue decline of up to 40% due to prolonged roadwork projects that have significantly exceeded their original deadlines. Work on the street commenced on May 27, with the Nicosia Municipality having previously scheduled the reopening of the area for August 11. Five months later, the street remains largely inaccessible to the public, with trenches, exposed pipes, and construction materials scattered throughout the site.

Local businesses claim that there has been a notable absence of construction activity for several weeks, with workers reportedly absent during a site inspection conducted on Tuesday, October 13. While some asphalt has been laid, essential work remains unfinished, leading one business owner to lay off staff due to the sustained lack of customers. The Nicosia Municipality claims the contractor has promised to complete the project "very soon," though no specific completion date has been provided. The municipality maintains that the second section of the street was reopened in accordance with a June schedule, a statement that contradicts the current experiences and reports from local traders regarding the ongoing, non-functional state of the road.