Cyprus' new Central Prisons will be built in the Agios Sozomenos area of Nicosia district, replacing an earlier plan to develop the facility in Mathiatis, the Justice Ministry said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order attended by Justice Minister Costas Fytiris and representatives of the relevant government departments.
According to the ministry, officials reviewed progress on the project and agreed the next steps for its implementation, with planning now proceeding on the basis of a site in Agios Sozomenos.
The ministry said the selection process for the most suitable location had been carried out in parallel with efforts related to the design, development and financing of the project.
"As a result, the evaluation and final selection of the site do not delay preparation of the project," the ministry said.
Key infrastructrure in place at new site
The ministry said the state-owned plot in Agios Sozomenos was chosen following an assessment of technical and financial factors, with overall cost and the time required to develop supporting infrastructure serving as the key criteria.
Mathiatis had initially been identified as the preferred location. However, subsequent technical assessments found that the project would require substantial additional infrastructure, including a new road network, sewerage and water systems, as well as electricity supply infrastructure.
Those requirements would have increased both costs and the time needed to complete the project, the ministry said.
By contrast, the Agios Sozomenos site offers significant advantages because key road, sewerage, water and electricity infrastructure already exists in, or is readily accessible from, the surrounding area.
The ministry said this would reduce both costs and the time required for the project's development and implementation.
"The Government's objective is to create a modern correctional complex in the most economical, fastest and most functional manner, without compromising on security requirements, operational needs and modern correctional facility standards," the ministry said.
Source: CNA
