Limassol municipalities launch urban development project excluding CUT

The municipalities of Limassol, Amathounta, and Polemidia have officially launched a 42-month, 1.2 million euro urban planning project titled 'Standard Integrated Design of Sustainable Mobility, Spatial and Urban Redevelopment and Development of the Municipality of Limassol'. The initiative, which is part of the 'Limassol 2030' climate-neutral and smart city project, has been contracted to the University of Cyprus and Frederick University. Panayiotis Zaphiris, Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT/TEPAK), expressed surprise and disappointment that his institution was not invited to participate as an equal partner, noting that CUT hosts 4,000 students and staff in the city center. The mayors of the three participating municipalities, Yiannis Armeftis, Kyriakos Xydias, and Andros Theodorou, responded to the criticism by stating they may include other scientific bodies in the future and emphasizing that they are focusing on the project's objectives. Reports suggest this exclusion may be linked to previous disagreements between the Municipality of Limassol and CUT regarding development projects at the Old Hospital site. The project aims to reduce automobile dependency and create a sustainable, climate-neutral urban environment by 2030.