Visiting the site of the renovations to the Municipal Market in Chania – the Agora – on 30th April, the city’s mayor Panagiotis Simandirakis pronounced himself satisfied with the progress being made. The mayor was accompanied by deputy mayors Michail Kalogridakis (Technical Services), Emmanouil Kotsifakis (Technical Services), Stylianos Michailakis (Civil Protection, Education, Sport and Culture) and Michail Tsoupakis (Environment, Green Issues and Hygiene), as well as Municipal Councillor Adam Moutzoukas, staff of the Municipality’s Technical Services Directorate and representatives of the contractor.
The mayor of Chania Panagiotis Simandirakis tours the site of the Agora under renovation, together with Municipal officials. Photo: Municipal press release.
In a statement to the media after his tour of the site, Mr Simandirakis said that the work was proceeding at a fast pace and he hoped that the renovation of the monument would be completed on schedule according to the revised timetable, i.e. by May 2025. “We all noticed the speed at which the work is proceeding,” he said. “The floor of the main part, inside the shops has been almost completed, while the work of facing the walls is also proceeding. It is clear that the work is continuing without interruption, every day, with many and different teams. Our Technical Service has very good communication with the contractor.”
The work of concreting the floors of the shops is almost complete. Photo: Municipal press release.
The mayor emphasised that all the past difficulties, both with the contracting company and with the Ephorates of Antiquities and Modern Monuments, have been overcome and during the last three months “the work has been proceeding rapidly so as to be delivered on time to the community of Chania”.
The deputy mayor for Technical Works Michalis Kalogridakis described the renovation of the Agora as “the flagship of all the projects being carried out in Chania”, with special efforts being made by the Service and the contractors to ensure its timely completion. Mr Kalogridakis said that the works currently under way include the installation of fibre-optic networks, of the water supply and drainage pipes and electrical wiring, as well as the completion of the floors in the interior of the shops. This will be immediately followed by the final concreting of the floors in the aisles and the installation in sections of the roof, which is being constructed off-site.
The work will continue at an undiminished pace throughout the summer and the Municipality’s Technical Service is satisfied with its progress, its Director Giorgos Eythymios said, while, speaking for the contractor, the site manager Giannis Sougias reiterated that all the problems had been solved and the work on the monument is proceeding at a fast pace.
(Haniotika Nea, 30/04/24)