Government prepares major transport infrastructure projects for Crete

Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced a plan for the Northern Road Axis of Crete (NRAC) motorway, which will link Chania to Agios Nikolaos.

Tsipras made the announcement during a speech at the Regional Conference on Productive Reconstruction in Heraklio on Thursday.

The Greek PM said that the study for the section from Kastelli to Sitia will be auctioned in October 2017 while the more mature section of the motorway, from Chania to Agios Nikolaos, for which the tender for its construction will take place in the beginning of 2018.

"Therefore we believe work will begin at the beginning of 2019 and we will be here with the regional governor at the start of the work," he said, adding that the project will be completed in 4-5 years.

The other major project on the island will be the airport in Kastelli, for which the government has selected the type of company that will take over it, as well as the state fees for the local government and the ministry of infrastructure.

Tsipras said Crete is large enough to host a large scope of productive activities. "The aim is to restore a decent living standard for employees and to ensure the provision of satisfactory social services."

He then noted that the EuroAsia Interconnector, a proposed project to link Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli power grids via the world's longest submarine power cable, will cement Crete's role as an energy hub and create jobs, along with the EastMed Pipeline that will channel gas to Europe from newly discovered east Mediterranean reserves.

"All these projects will increase Crete’s importance, will create jobs," he continued, adding that their construction will proceed with the strictest standards to protect the environment.

"We are not in favour of entrepreneurship in general, but of entrepreneurship that respects employment and the natural environment," he said.