Nicosia’s central urban bus terminal, currently operating at Solomos Square, may relocate to a prime state-owned plot of land opposite the former Hilton hotel, widely known as the “Qatar plot.”
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos favours the specific site for the new terminal, according to information obtained by Phileleftheros. The proposal has historical precedent, as a state service previously submitted a similar idea.
However, the previous proposal intended the site to function as a park-and-ride interchange where intercity buses would stop, transferring passengers to smaller municipal buses destined for the city centre. That plan stalled after the urban transport company at the time opposed it, arguing the move would cause it to lose clientele. All current bus routes originate at Solomos Square and cover all destinations.
The Mayor raised the idea of abolishing the current terminal at Omirou Square (its correct name) during a municipal council meeting, but the issue has not yet been discussed in depth.
ETEK supports relocation
The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) supports the Mayor’s idea. ETEK recently raised the issue during a workshop addressing both access to the capital and the development of the historic centre.
ETEK President Constantinos Constantis highlighted targeted, low-cost measures, including the relocation of Omirou Square as a terminal station, more shading and greenery, and consolidating operating hours for a coherent experience. However, Constantis initially stressed that reopening Makarios Avenue to car traffic, as a standalone idea, was not a priority.
Relocating the terminal has critics, who question the logic of adopting policies to enhance public transport while “exiling” buses from the city centre. Proponents, however, argue that the buses currently occupy a traffic lane (causing congestion) that private vehicles could use.
Organised shopkeepers also oppose removing the buses, fearing it would further harm their businesses, many of which face survival issues. The merchants do support opening Makarios Avenue to all vehicles, a stance disputed by state agencies.
Troubled history of the plot
The state-owned plot, covering $24,768$ square metres, has a contentious history. In 2017, the then-Mayor of Aglantzia suggested converting the “Qatar plot” into a parking area, noting its potential to serve nearby uses for both Nicosia and Aglantzia Municipalities. At the time, urban planning incentives allowed for a building coefficient of 250%, enabling the construction of approximately $55,000$ square metres.
In 2010, the government of Demetris Christofias proposed transferring the plot to Qatar for development, triggering fierce debate. The opposition DISY party rejected the plan, claiming the land was being sold off cheaply, leading to the collapse of the plans.
The Department of Lands and Surveys estimated the plot’s value at $€143$ million in July 2010, while Qatar’s own assessors valued it below $€50$ million. In 2018, the Department estimated the land’s value at only $€5$ million, causing an uproar and leading MP Irene Charalambidou to question why the “fillet’s” value had fallen by approximately 26 times between 2012 and 2018.
In 2020, the plot was converted into a “temporary” parking facility to serve the nearby Immigration Department offices. The then-Director General of the Ministry of Interior, which manages the plot, told Phileleftheros that the $250$-space parking area would cover only a small portion of the plot and would use crushed aggregate instead of asphalt due to its temporary nature.
It remains to be seen whether the proposal to move the bus terminal from Solomos Statue to the former Hilton plot will proceed.