Cyprus has many problems with building public roads. Several important projects are very late. They also cost much more money than planned. This is bad for taxpayers.
A big example is the road from Paphos to Polis Chrysochous. People needed this road for many years. However, building it has been delayed many times. One part of the road is called Agia Marinouda–Stroumpi. This section is 15.5 kilometers long. It has shown the problems Cyprus has.
A company called INTRAKAT got the contract for this part. It cost about €73 million. The work should finish in November 2024. But by then, very little work was done. Therefore, the Public Works Department ended INTRAKAT's contract.
INTRAKAT's parent company, AKTOR, tried to change the decision. However, the department did not change its mind. This made things even later. Now, the cost is higher. The new estimate is about €92 million. This section will likely take three more years to finish.
This road is not the only problem. Building a gas terminal also has delays. These problems happen because of complicated rules. There are also long legal fights. Material costs are also going up. Experts say the rules for public projects are not good enough.
These delays and higher costs cause many problems. People and businesses need good roads. The unfinished Paphos–Polis Chrysochous road makes travel harder. It also affects safety. Cyprus needs to fix its building projects soon. The government must make better plans.