Following previous announcements on this matter, the Public Works Department addresses points raised by MP Mr. Costas Costas in an article published in Alithia newspaper on April 8, 2025. Several of these points are based on the written statement submitted by the project’s designer during the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Communications and Works on April 3, 2025. These statements require clarification by the Department.
- Mr. Costas claimed that the contractor is making unjustified modifications.
The Department clarified both during the Parliamentary Committee session and in a previous announcement that the designer is incorrect in stating—both in writing and in public remarks—that the contractor made unjustified changes that undermine the original design and the tender specifications. In fact, the tender documents, including the plans provided by the designer himself, clearly required the contractor to make changes necessary to resolve construction challenges that arose from the initial design, and to develop technical solutions for industrial production and installation of the shelters on pavements. Therefore, the basis of the tender was fair and equal for all economic operators, and contrary to repeated claims by Mr. Costas, this does not constitute a scandal.
Mr. Costas also noted that the winning bid was €6 million lower than the next bidder, suggesting that this should have raised concerns.
However, the winning bid was €36 million—just 4.74% above the Department’s official cost estimate—making it neither unusually low nor grounds for disqualification. The Department was obligated to award it.
- On the issue of materials, Mr. Costas stated that the contractor used simple sheet metal instead of pasaman.
However, the tender documents required a structural study for each shelter type, based on European standards for static and dynamic loads, seismic resistance, and wind gusts of up to 120 km/h. These studies were reviewed by both an independent consultant and the Department’s own engineers. The minimum metal thickness required for the structural frame was set at 3mm, and the choice of cross-section shape was left to the contractor. While the designer used pasaman sections in his prototypes, these proved structurally weak, with problems such as panel support difficulties, excessive screw holes, and soft outer panels.
- Addressing another point, Mr. Costas claimed the seat dimensions were changed.
The Department clarified that the only change concerned the bench leg height, to allow adjustment for sloped pavements. This is explicitly noted by the designer in his own statement to the Parliamentary Committee. No change was made to the length of the bench.
- Regarding the claim that the designer was not invited to review changes made by the contractor, the opposite is true.
The designer was invited to review both the technical drawings and the prototypes produced based on them. These prototypes were presented by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works during a press conference in June 2024, attended by EU representatives, the designer, and the media.
- On the topic of “smart” features, Mr. Costas claimed the designer does not know why they are missing.
The Department has explained—both during the Committee session and in prior announcements—that shelters are being installed in stages. First the frame is set up, followed by glass panels and then the electrical systems. In about 500 key locations, digital information screens and audio announcement systems will be added. Electrical components and glass are already being installed on existing shelters. Larger shelters are scheduled for installation in the coming months.
- Mr. Costas also repeated the claim that the designer was unaware of the extensive use of the medium-sized Type B shelter, which he said was meant only for special-use areas.
This is false. The number of such shelters and their placement were clearly stated in numerous presentations and announcements by the Department and are included in the preliminary tender documents—submitted by the designer as part of his contract. The construction contract includes 1,350 expandable medium-sized shelters, intended for installation in urban areas with low foot traffic, where most stops currently consist only of a pole and there is limited space. Additionally, the Type A pillar-only stop is specifically intended for tight spaces, such as historical city centers or in front of buildings that must remain visually unobstructed.
- Mr. Costas also claimed that “small” shelters were placed outside schools and on the Protaras coastal front, despite heavy tourist traffic.
The Department clarified that no shelter outside a school has been removed or replaced with a smaller one, and this was thoroughly explained in the Parliamentary Committee session. As for Protaras, shelter placement was based on actual passenger data from electronic bus tracking systems, and coordinated with the municipalities of Paralimni and Deryneia and the operating bus company. Where demand is higher during summer months, larger shelters will be installed.
- Responding to the claim that changes to the plans were ongoing for four years, the Department explained that the design process started with the designer’s appointment and continued—as per the contract—up to the completion of the construction tender.
Therefore, broad claims of prolonged and continuous changes are misleading.
For context, the design was commissioned to Cyprus-based industrial design firm Demades Design Ltd and followed the Accessible Bus Stop Design Guidance by Transport for London. The designer submitted five preliminary proposals for different types of shelters (pillar, small shelter, and large expandable shelter). In all five, the pillar was positioned exactly as it is being implemented today.
It is worth noting that although the designer repeatedly avoided clarifying the position of the pillar in many of his public statements, during the Parliamentary Committee on Transport session held on 03/04/2025, as well as in various media appearances and his interview with Politis tis Kyriakis newspaper, he explicitly stated that there was no design error. The size of the shelter follows his original design, which he himself described as innovative.
The Public Works Department supports the design's integrity and has, throughout the process, requested improvements and cost reductions, as the designer himself has acknowledged.
Finally, the Department emphasizes that all documents forming the basis of the tender are publicly available on the e-procurement platform and have been reviewed by the competent public procurement authority. This authority has issued compliance certificates for both the tender documents and the awarding procedure.
