Construction works for the first phase of the Pedieos River/Kanlıdere Rehabilitation Project, funded by the European Union under the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community kick off, a press release issued by the European Commission has said.
Implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) this EU-funded effort marks the beginning of on-site improvements that will enhance public space, access to nature and the overall connectivity around the river flowing through Nicosia, the press release noted.
According to the press release, this phase covers 1.2 kilometres and works will include a two way bicycle lane, a sidewalk and a green belt forming an access route leading towards the river. Construction has already begun as of the end of November 2025 and is expected to conclude by the end of February 2026. When completed, this part of the project will offer safer and more comfortable walking and cycling paths leading into the wider rehabilitation area.
This work is part of a larger EU-funded plan to create a 3.7-kilometre linear park in the northern part of Nicosia which will also connect to the southern parts of the city through the Ledra Palace crossing.
The project will provide more places for leisure, improve the natural environment along the river and create shared public spaces that support everyday interactions. By bringing communities together, the project contributes to wider peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Cyprus, the press release said.
It noted that the Pedieos River / Kanlıdere rehabilitation project builds on extensive preparatory work, including a feasibility study carried out by the European Commission in 2018-2019. UNDP finalised the design in September 2024, drawing on environmental studies and input from different stakeholders.
With this investment, the European Union aims to restore the river environment, enhance local biodiversity and support a more sustainable and better-connected urban landscape, while helping to foster trust through improved shared spaces, it is underlined.
The Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, based on Council Regulation 389/2006, aims at facilitating the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island, on improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU, and on preparation for the EU body of laws (also referred to as acquis communautaire).
(Source: CNA)
