Summary

There are no bus stops on the Chania–Rethymno national road near the Agios Rafail pilgrimage site, even though KTEL buses regularly serve the route and passengers board and alight there. The municipality of Apokoronas has formally asked the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to include two stops — one in each direction — in the current design phase of the new VOAK highway project. According to the municipality, incorporating the stops now would cost far less than retrofitting them after construction is complete.

No bus stops at Agios Rafail: safety concern raised as new highway is planned

Buses on the Chania–Rethymno national road stop near the Agios Rafail pilgrimage site, but there are no proper bus stops there — no shelter, no lay-by, no marked boarding area. Passengers, including elderly visitors and families, step on and off in live traffic on one of Crete's busiest roads.

Who is affected

The problem affects anyone travelling by KTEL bus to Agios Rafail, one of the most visited religious sites in the Apokoronas area. Thousands of pilgrims make the journey each year, along with local residents who rely on the bus as their main means of transport in this part of the region.

What the municipality is asking for

The Apokoronas municipality has sent a formal letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and to those responsible for building the new VOAK highway, requesting two dedicated bus stops — one in each direction — at the Agios Rafail site on the national road.

The municipality's case rests on timing: the new VOAK is currently in the design and construction phase, which makes this the ideal moment to include the stops at minimal cost. Waiting until after the road is built would mean far more expensive remedial work.

A straightforward safety argument

The core of the request is road safety. Without proper stops, passengers — particularly older people — are exposed to fast-moving traffic every time they board or leave a bus. The municipality argues that a modern road corridor should include provision for the safe movement of all users, including those travelling to a major place of worship.

The letter was addressed to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the relevant ministerial departments, and the bodies overseeing the VOAK construction project.

PRESS RELEASE – Intervention by the Mayor of Apokoronas regarding the construction of bus stops at Agios Rafail

June 23, 2026, 7:47 AM

The Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, has sent a letter to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the competent services of YPOME, and the bodies responsible for constructing the new VOAK, requesting the immediate provision and construction of two bus stops in the area of the Holy Pilgrimage Site of Agios Rafail, on the Chania–Rethymno National Road.

The Mayor highlights an issue that is primarily one of human safety. Every year, thousands of faithful, residents, and visitors travel to Agios Rafail by KTEL bus services, without, however, the necessary infrastructure existing for safe boarding and alighting.

"We consider it imperative that on a modern road axis there should be provision for the safe service of people visiting one of the most important pilgrimage sites in our area," emphasises Charalampos Koukianakis.

With the construction of two stops, one in each direction, citizens, the elderly, families and the thousands of pilgrims who visit Agios Rafail will be served safely, while at the same time dangerous conditions currently observed on the national road network will be prevented.

The Mayor of Apokoronas points out that now is the right moment for this specific intervention to be incorporated into the design of the new VOAK, at minimal cost and without future corrections.

For the Municipal Authority, the safety of citizens is not a detail of planning. It is a priority. And when it concerns a place that constitutes a point of reference for faith, the local community, and thousands of visitors, the State is obliged to provide an immediate solution.

The Municipality of Apokoronas will continue to pursue works that serve people, safety, and the everyday life of citizens, without compromises and without delays.