Within 2026, the action concerning the creation of a Park and Ride station at a point between Saitta and Trimiklini is expected to be completed, to serve both the residents of the wider area and the multitude of tourists visiting the mountains, said Commissioner of Mountain Communities Charalambos Christofinas to “Entrepreneurial Limassol”. As the Commissioner of Mountain Communities explained, the effort is still in its initial stages and in particular, the Department of Studies of Public Works has started drawing up plans, while at the same time, pending issues are being settled in relation to land that will be used for the creation of the Park and Ride, which belongs to the Moniatis community.
Charalambos Christofinas added that the community has given its consent and planning for the Transfer Station has begun. He explained that the land in question is state land and has been leased for past use to the Moniati Community Council (since it is located in Saitta and not in Trimiklini), next to the Fire Station in the area. A plot of land has been leased to the Ministry of Justice and for this purpose, procedures are underway with the Land Survey Department to position with the Department of Public Works what needs to be done there, and a political decision has been made for the Department of Public Works to proceed with the design and construction of the Transfer Station.
As the Commissioner was informed by the agencies involved, these bureaucratic processes will take at least six months to be completed. From there, it will take another year to complete the action. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism has also been involved in the effort and will set up a Tourist Information Centre to inform visitors to Troodos about what they can see in the area. At the same time, a small station (kiosk type) will be set up so that passengers transferring to other lines to travel to Troodos, the airports or Limassol can make a short stop for a rest and a light meal with coffee or refreshments, as in all countries of the world.
The Commissioner of Mountain Communities explained that the reasons for promoting the action are primarily the requirement to connect the mountain communities with each other, because there is a need to serve the local population, either pupils moving to schools and tutorials, or students so that they do not have to stay in Limassol, but can travel by public transport. Also, to ensure a good service for the many foreign visitors who move in the mountainous areas.
According to Charalambos Christofina there were thoughts of doing something similar to Parekklisia to and from the highlands in the eastern Limassol district, but because the interconnection and the lines only cover that area, it would not be viable and was abandoned. Christofinas said that there is activity and people in Trimiklini, so as I first step the Ministry of Transport has instructed that an organised stop be built opposite the AlphaMega supermarket, which will be completed by September. The initiative, undertaken by the Commissioner of Mountain Communities in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, also involves EMEL and ETAL.
The Director of Development, Communication and Human Resources of EMEL, Petros Theocharides, stressed that the Transport Company has always been looking for such a location between Saitta - Trimiklini to serve all the villages up to Troodos.
