urban planning mistakes over the past 25 years have led the city to a transport crisis, and buses cannot operate normally even with a growing number of passengers. Limassol is paying for decisions made decades ago. Roads are overloaded, public transport is constantly late, and the construction of new interchanges is no longer capable of solving the problem on its own.
This was stated by the general director of the bus company EMEL, Georgios Kyriakou, in an interview with Phileleftheros.
🚌 There are more passengers, but buses are stuck in traffic jams
In the first nine months of 2026, EMEL buses carried 5.14 million passengers compared to 4.36 million in the same period of 2025. The growth amounted to about 780 thousand people, or almost 18%.
At the same time, more than 200 buses are forced to move in the general flow of cars. A delay of one trip disrupts the schedule of the following ones, and road accidents further complicate traffic every day.
🚦 Bus lanes were built but not launched
According to Kyriakou, dedicated lanes for public transport have still not been put into operation.
For example, about 130 trips are made daily on the coastal route, each of which carries an average of 48 passengers. However, buses do not have the necessary advantage over cars.
🏙 The city has grown, but the roads have remained the same
Over several decades, the population of the northern districts of Limassol has increased from about 20 to 120 thousand people.
The motorway, originally intended for intercity traffic, has effectively become part of the urban road network.
As a result, even a trip between neighboring districts can take about half an hour.
⚠️ The new bypass road will not save the situation
The EMEL management believes that the Northern Bypass Road will be able to relieve part of the traffic flow, but will not eliminate daily traffic jams inside the city.
For real changes, dedicated bus lanes, priority for public transport at traffic lights, convenient transfers, and the development of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure are needed.
👨✈️ Drivers are working at the limit
Constant delays, tense traffic, and the need to adhere to the schedule create a serious burden on drivers.
Kyriakou warns that without an improvement in the road situation, the company risks facing a shortage of employees.
📌 The main problem of Limassol is not only the number of cars, but also a transport system that cannot keep up with the growth of the city. According to the EMEL management, further postponement of decisions will only worsen the situation.
@cyprus_kipr
