As part of the ongoing upgrade of bus stop and shelter infrastructure—which will continue despite some expressed concerns—Limassol city and district have so far seen the installation of 51 Type B shelters, 26 refurbished shelters, and 21 Type A pillars adjacent to refurbished shelters. The relevant contract provides for the nationwide upgrade of bus stops and shelters (a total of 4,450 locations) over a five-year period (October 2023 – October 2028), with long-term material warranties and a 15-year maintenance period (2023–2038).
In Limassol, Type B shelters have been installed along Omonia Avenue, Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, Misiaouli and Kavazoglou, Demokratias Avenue, and Agias Fylaxeos. Repaired-type shelters have been placed on Limassol Vertical Road, 35th Street, Anikodomiseos Street, Charalambos Evagorou Street, and the Saittas–Trimiklini route. According to information received by “Entrepreneurial Limassol” from the Public Works Department, the order placed with the contractor for Limassol for the years 2024–2025 includes the installation of shelters along the following avenues and routes: Omonia, Franklin Roosevelt, the Seafront (from Celal Bayar Street to Crowne Plaza), Arch. Makarios III Avenue (from Foui traffic lights to Enaerios), Agias Fylaxeos, Spyrou Kyprianou, Misiaouli and Kavazoglou, Demokratias, Yiltiz–Navarinou–Gladstonos, Georgiou Griva Digeni–Kolonakiou, Port Vertical Road, 35th Street, Christou Kranou, Petrou Tsirou, and Agias Zonis. Additionally, 24 enclosed shelters are planned for mountainous areas.
It is worth noting that Limassol city and district have approximately 1,440 bus stop points, of which only about 320 currently have shelters. All locations have been surveyed and documented regarding their existing condition. According to the Public Works Department, on-site meetings have been completed to confirm the placement of the designated shelter type at many locations, including the Seafront and Arch. Makarios III Avenue, where the largest shelter types (Type C) are planned. In some areas, the necessary preparatory work has already been completed (removal of existing shelters, foundation construction, and special modifications), and the installation of new shelters is imminent. Glass panels are installed on-site to avoid damage during transport and installation.
All new stops and shelters feature an LED indicator along the pillar, which flashes or changes color when a bus is approaching, approximately one minute away. This technology is pioneering and, according to the relevant authorities, has not been implemented on this scale in any other country to date. The system operates based on the Bus Telematics System developed by the Public Works Department under a separate co-funded contract, providing visual alerts to passengers to prepare for boarding while also reducing waiting times at the stop.
Approximately 500 selected locations will be equipped with low-energy-consumption E-Paper electronic displays that provide real-time bus arrival information. These stops will also feature an audio announcement system (activated by a button) that reads the screen content aloud to assist all passengers. All stops will be equipped with photovoltaic systems that meet the energy needs of core functions, reducing environmental impact and the cost of connecting to the electrical grid. They will also include LED lighting systems that activate automatically via brightness sensors when natural light is insufficient (e.g., at dusk or during cloudy weather), enhancing passenger safety.
The Ministry of Transport also offers the Cyprus Bus mobile app, through which users can receive real-time bus arrival updates. QR codes will be placed at all stops for instant access to the app, saving time and reducing waiting. The new shelters also feature remote monitoring capabilities via connection to a central platform, allowing for the efficient operation of electrical and electronic systems.
