Building a light rail tram network in Limassol could cost between €25 million and €95 million per kilometre depending on the chosen technology, according to the city's mayor, Yiannis Armeftis. Speaking to Sigma television following a preliminary meeting at the Ministry of Transport, Armeftis emphasized that the project should not be evaluated purely on its initial construction price tag. Instead, decision-makers must factor in the long-term economic gains from urban revitalization, increased real estate values, and reduced lost working hours caused by chronic rush-hour congestion along the city's road network.
Cyprus currently faces an overwhelming reliance on private vehicles, which account for roughly 90 percent of all urban movement. Armeftis pointed out that no city has ever successfully managed gridlock with such high private car usage. Although the government allocates approximately €100 million annually to public transport, with roughly a quarter spent in Limassol, bus journeys account for a mere 3 to 5 percent of total travel across the island. Frequent delays and time-consuming routes have eroded public trust in buses, though heavily used services like Limassol's coastal Route 30 prove that commuters will embrace public transit when routes are fast and dependable.
Addressing concerns regarding limited road space in Limassol's dense urban core, Armeftis noted that existing bus lanes could eventually be repurposed into dedicated tram corridors. He pointed to compact European cities with similar spatial constraints that successfully operate light rail systems. The discussion comes as Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos recently expanded plans for the capital's own proposed tramline from 14 to 20 kilometres. Both cities are aiming to leverage the European Union's next multiannual financial framework for 2028 through 2034 to secure necessary capital, with local leaders pressing for early preparation to ensure Cyprus can capitalize on available European infrastructure funds.