The Zero Point Interchange (ZPI) project inaugurated by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani a few days ago will have little success in reducing the miseries of motorists if the Capital Development Authority (CDA) does not build pedestrian bridges on Faisal Avenue and Kashmir Highway. “The main objective of ZPI is to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on Faisal Avenue and Kashmir Highway but due to a lack of pedestrian bridges at Faisal Avenue and Kashmir Highway, traffic jams and road accidents have become a common sight”, a CDA official told Pakistan Today.
He said residents of G-7 and G-8 cross the road during rush hours by foot due to which several people have lost their lives on the road. “The CDA constructed a flyover at the ZPI interchange a cost of millions of rupees but it could not ease pedestrians’ suffering”, he said.
The official said that after opening the ZPI project, the CDA had plans to construct an overhead pedestrian bridge at Faisal Avenue and another on Kashmir Highway. “The CDA has also prepared a feasibility of the project estimated to cost Rs 48 million for construction of pedestrian bridges and it has been decided that the Heavy Mechanical Complex would execute the project. But the authority’s finance wing has yet to release funds for it”, he said.
He said that it was the responsibility of CDA’s engineering wing to include the construction of pedestrian bridges in the original design of ZIP project. “If the CDA completed its construction alongside the ZIP project the current traffic problems would ease out,” he said.
“According to a survey, over 25,000 vehicles cross Zero Point per hour from four directions during peak hours and the traffic load is increasing with every passing day. The CDA needs to construct pedestrian bridges on an urgent basis,” he said.
A number of citizens, while talking to Pakistan Today, said they faced a lot of problems crossing the road on Faisal Avenue and they have to risk their life and limb every day. The official said the CDA had earlier decided to construct eight pedestrian bridges, one on Islamabad Highway opposite the Federal Government College of Commerce, but the CDA built only two bridges, one on 7th Avenue and the other on Islamabad Expressway.