Cyprus cancels tender for Paphos-Polis highway expansion
The Cypriot Ministry of Transport has officially cancelled the new tender process for the Paphos to Polis Chrysochous highway, citing financial and procedural concerns. Minister Evi Tsolaki confirmed that the Tenders Board rejected both submitted bids: one was disqualified for missing essential documentation, while the other was deemed unaffordable as it exceeded the ministry's €90.2 million estimate by approximately 40 percent. The bids from Cyfield Construction and Araco Construction were for €124.85 million and €128.94 million respectively.
This project, which dates back to the 1970s, has faced recurring delays since the original 2021 contract with INTRAKAT was terminated in November 2024. Official data indicates that by late 2024, only 21.1 percent of the work had been completed despite a significant lapse in the construction timeline. The government is now facing severe criticism from local authorities in Polis Chrysochous and political figures, including Yiannis Karousos and Averof Neofytou, regarding cost inflation and mismanagement.
The Ministry of Transport maintains that it is prioritizing the protection of public funds and is currently reviewing alternative strategies to resume the project. Local municipal leaders are demanding an urgent meeting with the Minister to establish clear, binding timelines for a new procurement process to prevent further indefinite delays.