Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos is testing out the city’s new dormitories on Monday evening, to make sure they are up to standard.

Accompanied by Tepak rector Panayiotis Zaphiris and board chairman Costas Galatariotis, Phedonos informally received the dormitories, was given a tour and then cooked spaghetti with chicken garnished with cheese, before they settled down for the night.

Phedonos said the 203-room dormitories, set to receive the first students in a few days’ time, were completed in just 11 months and reminded that the diggers went in on October 27, 2023.

He said checks would continue on Tuesday and that on Wednesday at 10am the first 140 students from Tepak, 15 American University of Beirut students and three from Neapolis, would be receiving their room keys.

Phedonos said the building was constructed with renewable energy sources on the roof and was wind proof and insulated.

Emphasis was also given on green areas, creating a peaceful and serene environment, he added.

Rent was set at €350, of which €80 was for expenses, such as electricity, wi-fi and cleaning common areas.

Income from the rent would be used for 17 years to pay off the loan for the dormitories.

Phedonos also said 48 rooms would remain empty, in case they were needed over the next few days to relocate AUB students, whose families were in warzones.

Zaphiris said Tepak had begun the new academic year dynamically, explaining that this year it was welcoming 600 students, compared to last year’s 150.

He added that the next step would be to introduce new programmes, as the building had a capacity to host up to 1,000 students.