The government announced on Tuesday the termination of an €8 million contract for the Liopetri River and fishing shelter project after nearly two years of delays. According to the Interior Ministry, progress had been slow despite a 22-month extension, and further continuation seemed impossible within the given timeframe.
The project, initially reported as 50% complete last year, has only reached 55% completion as of this month. The Interior Ministry highlighted that despite repeated warnings to the contractor and project engineer, there was minimal advancement. Instead, the contractor made “excessive demands” that resulted in severe delays impacting the local community, especially fishermen, restaurant owners, and others relying on the project for regional development.
Efforts to resolve the issues through numerous meetings ultimately proved ineffective. The government cited a failure on the contractor’s part to meet any deadlines despite repeated attempts to facilitate timely completion.
Last week, the Town Planning Department canceled the contract after determining that the delays and lack of progress could not be remedied. The decision aligned with findings from an audit office report provided to the government on Monday.
Now, the Interior Ministry is assessing alternative solutions to finish the project as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Source: Cyprus Mail