Worsening traffic congestion and measures to address it dominated Friday’s House finance committee meeting, where Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades presented his ministry’s €780 million budget for 2025.

MPs pressed Vafeades on various issues, including traffic cameras, roadworks, incentives to withdraw old cars, project delays and the reported congestion at Larnaca airport.

In response to public complaints about high fines associated with traffic cameras, Vafeades said he would provide answers in writing, citing time constraints during the meeting.

Disy MP and Party spokesperson Fotini Tsiridou said: “Daily commuting has turned into one of the biggest problems that people are facing in their daily lives, after inflation and housing.”

“Traffic congestion in cities such as Limassol and Nicosia – but also on the highway that connects them – has reached a crisis point,” she added.

“With each passing day, we waste countless hours on the roads, wasting man-hours that could be spent more productively.”

To tackle congestion, Vafeades outlined ongoing initiatives, including two bus stations outside Nicosia – the Alambra bus hub for transfers and a Park & Ride facility where passengers can leave their cars and take a bus into the city. Four more Park & Ride stations are planned for Kalo Chorio, Aradippou, Kato Polemidia, and Ayios Tychonas.

Additionally, the ministry has allocated €36.7 million to upgrade all bus stops nationwide, alongside plans to add more stops, purchase 28 electric minibuses and 40 full-size buses, construct bus lanes in Nicosia at a cost of €4.2 million and introduce smart transportation systems.

The ministry’s budget for 2025 also includes €25 million in incentives for withdrawing old vehicles and purchasing new electric ones, as well as for installing charging stations. Electric vehicle registrations have surged, with 1,107 registered this year compared to only 78 in 2020, 120 in 2021, and 995 in 2023.

A total of 1,697 electric vehicles were registered in 2024, including cars, scooters, vans and one bus.

Previous plans to withdraw old cars were financed with €6m in 2024 and €4m each for the years 2022 and 2023.

The transport ministry’s total budget request for 2025 is €789.6 million, marking an 11.7 per cent increase from 2024. Revenue projections for 2025 stand at €373.2 million, up from €343 million in 2024.

Along with projects already underway, the combined value reached €830m.

Presenting the budget, Vafeades also referred to the increasing revenue from Limassol port, which so far has brought in €417 million.

Breaking down the budget, Vafeades said €554m was for projects by the ministry itself and €276m for projects of other ministries to be undertaken by the transport ministry.

The ministry’s projected revenue for 2025 was €373.2m.

Vafeades outlined the most important projects, starting with €88.6m for the Astromeritis-Evrychou motorway, €86.9m for the Paphos-Polis motorway, €77.6m for the Nicosia-Palechori motorway and €31.1m for the first phase ofthe Limassol-Saittas motorway.

Construction works would require €143.9m for the Cyprus museum, €6.9m for the Ayia Napa fire station, €7.8m for the Cyprus blood centre, €12.9m for a press centre in view of Cyprus’ EU presidency in 2026 and €14.5m to upgrade ‘Spyros Kyprianou’ stadium.

A further €257m is reserved for projects of other ministers including ‘Limnes’ hospitality centre for political protection applicants and a predeparture centre in Menoyia for people to be repatriated.

Referring to projects of other ministries, Vafeades listed €17.7m for improvement works along the Larnaca-Dhekelia road, €3.8m to fence the Vasiliko energy centre, €22.3m for the Land and Surveys Department headquarters and €5m to turn the ‘Astra’ building into a family court.

Funded projects included maintenance works on bus stops at a cost of €43.6m and works to protect the coastal front of Oroklini €10.3m.

Vafeades said a number of projects would be signed over the next 12 months and would cost €175m, of which €114m were ministry projects and €61m projects of other ministries to be carried out by the transport ministry.

Calls for tenders will be made before the end of 2024 and in early 2025 for projects worth €696m, of which €391.5m are for ministry projects and €304.5 projects of other ministries.

Furthermore, €87.7m has been earmarked for public transport and €6.72m for viable mobility plans in Nicosia.

In statements to the press, Vafeades said the aim was to create a safe network and to raise awareness among young people regarding road safety.

In addressing traffic congestion, Vafeades emphasised upgrades to the public transport network, reduced bus fares, and an expansion of door-to-door services.

He highlighted the introduction of smart traffic lights to improve traffic flow, expected to be operational within two years, and suggested a staggered work schedule for the civil service and remote work options as additional ways to ease congestion.

Regarding airport operations, Vafeades noted that passenger numbers for 2024 are projected to be the highest ever, reaching 12.2 million. Larnaca Airport expects 8.6 million passengers, a 6.6 per cent increase over 2023, while Paphos Airport anticipates 3.6 million, up 1.3 per cent.

Regarding connectivity, the minister said Cyprus was linked to 38 countries via 55 airlines and that 156 routes were being carried out compared to 153 in 2023 and 147 in 2022.

Responding to concerns about long queues and delays at Larnaca Airport, Vafeades acknowledged the public’s frustration and promised that measures were being taken to address the issues.

On port revenues, Vafeades reported that Limassol port has generated €417 million for the state, while Larnaca port is under temporary control of the Ports Authority, with plans underway for project promotion and public discussions.