**MPs Raise Safety Concerns Over Paphos-Polis Road**
In a recent meeting of the House transport committee, concerns regarding the ongoing issues and delays related to the Paphos-Polis Chrysochous road project were brought to the forefront. The meeting, held on Thursday, highlighted the lack of communication from the transport ministry regarding the project's completion timeline and final cost estimates.
Disy MP Nicoletta Constantinou expressed frustration at the ministry's failure to provide a clear completion date. She noted that inspections had uncovered discrepancies in the work performed by the contractor, who has since been instructed to undertake remedial measures. However, the contractor has disputed the inspection methods outlined in their contract with the Public Works Department.
“The new road surface has issues with evenness, closed-off sections, and various other problems that are causing inconvenience to the public,” Constantinou stated. She emphasized that the contractor is bound by the specifications laid out in the contract and must deliver a road that meets those standards. If the surface does not meet the required specifications, it must be removed and corrected, she asserted.
Constantinou also stressed that the safety and quality of the road, which is heavily used by thousands of residents, should take precedence over the project's timeline. “Paphos has been waiting for years for the new Paphos-Polis road. We will not accept a road that barely meets the requirements,” she said.
Akel MP Valentinos Fakontis echoed these concerns, pointing out that the project was initially scheduled for completion in January 2026 but is now facing significant delays and quality issues. He raised alarms over technical problems related to the feasibility study and project plans, indicating that some necessary works had not been accounted for in the original plans. Fakontis specifically noted defects and irregularities in the road surface in the Tsada section, which he claimed pose serious road safety risks.
“We call on the Public Works Department and the contractor to take immediate action to repair the road surface and restore road safety,” he urged. Fakontis criticized the ministry for not providing a timeframe for the project's completion or a final cost estimate, questioning the government's ability to manage even small-scale projects. “If the state apparatus cannot carry out these small projects, how will it manage larger ones?” he asked.
Diko MP Chrysanthos Savvides also raised alarms during the meeting, referencing an acknowledgment from the Public Works Department regarding the issues on the road section between Mesoyia and Tsada. “Lives are at risk. The Public Works Department acknowledged the issue today, which is exactly what I have been saying publicly,” he remarked, highlighting the road's current state as “unusable.”
Savvides alleged that the contractor has been resistant to completing the necessary repairs and called for the Public Works Department to intervene to prevent potential tragedies. “If a life is lost tomorrow, someone must take responsibility,” he warned.
Additionally, Savvides questioned the process by which subcontracts for similar projects are awarded, suggesting that the procedure lacks proper regulation. “This is the harsh reality, and this is the tragic result,” he concluded.
The ongoing issues with the Paphos-Polis road project have raised significant safety concerns among local MPs, who are urging immediate action from the contractor and the Public Works Department to address the deficiencies and ensure the safety of the traveling public. The committee's discussions reflect a growing frustration with the management of infrastructure projects in the region, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in public works.