A new government initiative aiming to speed up the promotion of smart cities and the transition to digital and eco-friendly infrastructures by promoting innovation as a sustainable economic tool has been approved by the council of ministers, following a proposal by the deputy ministry of research, innovation and digital policy.
The project will be coordinated by the deputy ministry in cooperation with local municipalities.
“The plan is to find solutions to urban challenges through the use of smart grids and digital applications,” a statement published by the deputy ministry said.
“Areas where the project is looking to implement changes are mobility issues, including traffic management and parking availability, e-government services, security, especially on emergency management and environmental protection, by saving resources and reducing pollution.”
The initiative is fully in line with EU directives on sustainable development strategies, the deputy ministry said, adding that the entire project is expected to be a driving force in upgrading cities in Cyprus and improving the quality of life of their inhabitants.
The Nicosia municipality is in the process of drawing up a new mobility plan, in the hope to significantly improve the traffic situation in the capital.
On Monday, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos instructed researchers to complete two studies within the first half of 2021, which will primarily focus on redesigning bus lanes in Nicosia and on easing the congestion of traffic in the capital during rush hours.
On the latest topic, the data that will be eventually collected after the completion of the study will be the subject of a public debate.
The procedures to draft and plan improved traffic regulations for Nicosia started on Sunday, when the government announced that it will soon select experts who will work on the project.
This is the third government plan regarding traffic improvement in Nicosia. The first two plans, in 2000 and 2010, were implemented only to a limited extent and had no tangible effect on traffic circulation.
The plan is also hoping to boost the use of public transport, especially buses, thanks to a complete overhaul of bus lanes and a general refurbishment of bus stations within the city.
The project will have a total cost of €700,000 and is expected to be completed by 2023. Eighty-five per cent of the cost, however, will be covered by the EU.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jonathan Shkurko
Quelle/Source: Cyprus Mail, 16.11.2020
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