**Shopkeepers Demand Reopening of Makarios Avenue to Traffic in Nicosia**
Nicosia, Cyprus – Business owners and shopkeepers along Makarios Avenue are once again urging local authorities to reopen the thoroughfare to traffic, citing a significant decline in foot traffic and an alarming number of vacant storefronts. A joint platform advocating for the revitalization of the urban commercial core reported on Wednesday that approximately two out of every three shops on the avenue are currently unoccupied, leading to concerns about the area's economic vitality.
The platform described Makarios Avenue as having transformed into a “dead zone” since the implementation of restrictions on private vehicle access. They are calling for two-way traffic to be reinstated on the southern side of the avenue to help stimulate business activity and restore the area's vibrancy.
Nicosia's Mayor, Charalambos Prountzos, acknowledged the ongoing issue, noting that the municipality is actively working to implement a municipal council decision aimed at amending traffic regulations. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that any changes do not jeopardize European funding that has been allocated for the redevelopment project.
"The traffic regulations were established by the previous municipal council as part of the redevelopment under the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan," Prountzos explained. He indicated that he had submitted a proposal to modify the regulations after taking office, but it was ultimately amended by a majority of the municipal council. The mayor reiterated that the municipality is committed to implementing the council's decision while safeguarding taxpayer interests.
Discussions between the municipality and the platform are ongoing, focusing on the historic center of Nicosia and the associated traffic regulations. Prountzos stated that the municipality values the input from the platform and is considering various aspects related to the redevelopment efforts.
The joint platform criticized the delay in implementing a decision made by the municipal council in May of the previous year, which would allow for the partial reopening of Makarios Avenue to vehicles during specific hours. They attributed the hold-up to “bureaucracy and obsessions” within the local government. The platform contends that the closure of Makarios Avenue and nearby Leventis Street has effectively severed the connection between the city center and the historic commercial area within the walls of Nicosia.
"The new and historic centers of Nicosia must function as an organically unified center," the platform stated, arguing that the current arrangements are hindering access to businesses and contributing to the decline of the area.
The ongoing dispute is rooted in a broader context involving a redevelopment project costing over €20 million, which received European funding through a sustainable urban mobility program. This initiative aimed to limit private traffic in favor of promoting public transport and cycling. Despite this, the municipal council voted last year to permit private vehicles on Makarios Avenue during weekdays from 7 AM to 9 PM, while maintaining restricted access for buses, taxis, residents, and employees outside of those hours. The proposed changes would apply to the section of the avenue between the Lycavitos police station and Solomou Square, pending approval from the police chief.
Additionally, the platform raised concerns regarding delays in mobility plans and the absence of measures to accommodate commercial traffic, emphasizing that delivery vehicles play a crucial role in generating significant traffic movements necessary for local businesses.
As the debate continues, shopkeepers and business owners remain hopeful that their calls for action will lead to a revitalization of Makarios Avenue, allowing them to recover from the economic challenges posed by the current traffic restrictions. The outcome of ongoing discussions between the platform and local authorities will be closely monitored by stakeholders invested in the future of Nicosia's commercial landscape.