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Controversy continues to plague the rollout of Cyprus’s new “smart” bus stops, as reports of sluggish installation are now joined by incidents of vandalism and public mockery.
In central Nicosia, one of the first small-scale smart stops has already been defaced, with an unknown individual spray-painting the digital display panel in support of a football team. The incident, captured in a photo shared on social media, drew sharp criticism from Charalambos Theopemptou, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment. “They destroy with ease,” he said, voicing concern over the vulnerability of the yet-to-be-installed electronic information panels.
Theopemptou acknowledged claims that the stops are coated with an anti-graffiti layer but clarified that while this makes paint easier to clean, it doesn't prevent vandalism.
Adding to the growing skepticism around the project, a failed installation attempt on Demosthenis Severis Avenue in Nicosia sparked laughter and ridicule. A crew, attempting to reposition a post for better visibility, was unable to stabilize it on the new side and eventually reinstalled it in its original, obstructive location. The misstep was documented by MP Kostas Kostas and widely shared online.
With installation reportedly advancing at just one-tenth the expected pace and calls for an audit already underway, the troubled smart bus stop initiative is facing increasing scrutiny, not just over cost and efficiency, but now, public trust.
Για μένα αυτό είναι το μεγαλύτερο πρόβλημα και όχι οι στάσεις Τι θα γίνει όταν θα προστεθεί και η ηλεκτρονική πληροφόρηση;
— C. Theopemptou (@theopemptou) April 9, 2025
Καταστρέφουν με μεγάλη άνεση pic.twitter.com/NgzEcFz6TI
