mplementation is progressing rapidly on the nearly one-million-euro agreement signed between the Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAL) and the Spanish company GMV Sistemas, for the installation of 40 electronic information pillars at bus stops along the coastal road and 40 information displays inside an equal number of buses.

During a press conference held on Monday, 9 September 2019, the progress of the project was presented. The installation of 40 screens inside Limassol’s urban buses has already been completed, a Control Centre has been created at ETAL, and the first electronic information pillars have been installed at bus stops in the Limassol Port area. Implementation is expected to be completed within the autumn. Attendees had the opportunity to see the equipment and system operation both inside a bus and on-site at Limassol Port. The project is one of ETAL’s initiatives aimed at transforming Limassol into a smart city.

The infrastructure and the supporting systems are fully aligned and closely integrated with the bus telematics system implemented by the Ministry of Transport, which is already fully operational in Limassol, according to the Minister of Transport, Ms. Vassiliki Anastassiadou.

As the President of ETAL, Mr. Tonis Antoniou, stated:
“This equipment informs the public about the waiting time at the bus stop, while inside the bus the screens display the route and upcoming stops. At the same time, promotional videos of Limassol are shown, along with tourist information about current events in the city and points of interest in each area. This makes the system innovative, as for the first time transport information and tourist information are presented together to the public.”

The purchase and installation of the equipment are funded by European programmes—EV-Kinisi (Interreg Greece–Cyprus) and Civitas Destinations (Horizon 2020)—in which ETAL participates. These programmes focus on sustainable urban mobility, aiming to promote environmentally friendly transport options while upgrading Limassol’s infrastructure and services, making the city a more attractive and higher-quality destination.

Within the framework of these two European programmes, a mobile application for mobility in Limassol has also been created. It is available for free for Android and iPhone under the name “Mobility Limassol.” The app presents transport options and will soon provide real-time information about public transport.