Newsroom
The new Central Prison complex will be built in Agios Sozomenos, Nicosia district, after the government ruled against proceeding with the previously selected site at Mathiatis.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order attended by the ministry’s political head, Costas Fytiris, and representatives of the relevant state services.
The ministry said the choice was based primarily on cost and construction timelines, with planning and financing work continuing in parallel.
The Agios Sozomenos site is a state-owned plot where essential infrastructure is already available or can be accessed relatively easily, including roads, sewage, water supply and electricity networks.
This was a key factor in the decision, as the Mathiatis site would have required substantial additional infrastructure before construction could proceed.
According to the ministry, the technical assessment of Mathiatis found that a new road network, sewage and water systems and electricity infrastructure would have to be developed. The additional works would increase the overall cost of the project and extend the time needed for completion.
The government has therefore opted for Agios Sozomenos as the location for the new prison complex, while the various procedures required for the project continue simultaneously.
The ministry said the site selection process has not held up work on the project, with preparations for its design, development and financing already under way.
The planned facility is intended to replace the existing Central Prison complex with a modern correctional facility designed to meet current security and operational requirements.
The government’s stated objective is to deliver the project as quickly and economically as possible while maintaining the required standards for security, functionality and modern prison facilities.
