Dozens of Infrastructure Works to Prepare Crete for New Era

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis touring the construction site of the Castelli airport. Photo source: Prime Minister’s Press Office.

A total of 480 major infrastructure projects, including road works, hospitals and the highly anticipated Kastelli Airport, are on the Greek government’s agenda for the development of Crete, the country’s largest island.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented the Crete Development Plan 2030 which is budgeted at 7.7 billion euros and consists of works focusing on the development of modern networks and infrastructure, the upgrade of agricultural production and green transition, the implementation of investments that will create value added in sectors such as culture, research and innovation, and improving the quality of life of the island’s residents.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (photo center) speaking at the event. Photo source: Prime Minister’s Press Office.

Mitsotakis said the plan included “specific studies and schedules”, had secured funding and specific implementing agencies. “We are confident that everything we say can be implemented, and much has been implemented already”, he said during the presentation of the plan at  Heraklion City Hall.

Welcoming the prime minister to city hall, Crete Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis said the 2030 blueprint for the island which includes a new airport, a safe road network and energy efficiency envisions Crete as “a model region in Europe and the Mediterranean. A destination of sustainable and quality development for all Cretans”.

Some of the key infrastructure projects to be implemented under the Crete 2030 plan with a budget of 3.7 billion euros include the completion of the north road axis and peripheral roadway networks, the upgrade of the island’s ports and marinas, water and sanitation works, and increasing connectivity via air and sea – all directly linked with tourism.

Crete Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis. Photo source: Crete Region.

Additionally, 2.33 billion euros will be channeled into connecting Crete with the mainland energy grid as well as a series of irrigation and water supply projects, waste management initiatives and urban planning interventions.

The Crete 2030 plan also foresees boosting investment activity on the island. In this direction, the Greek government will be allocating 191 million euros for the modernization of research facilities at the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Centre for Technological Research of Crete as well as into museum and archaeological/historic site upgrades.

Lastly, the plan foresees 938 million euros to go toward investments in education, public health and sports.