The incomplete Zero-Point Interchange project has become a nuisance for commuters as its unfilled roadsides continue to threaten traffic on a daily basis. On Saturday morning, a coaster bearing registration number LRO 1474 experienced some mechanical problems on the Islamabad Highway, near Zero Point. As no blockade had been constructed next to the excavated roadside, the coaster plunged into it.
Luckily no injuries or casualties were reported. Due to increased traffic volumes, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had decided to construct an interchange at Zero Point some three years ago. But due to faulty design and other hitches, the project has remained incomplete and is now creating trouble for commuters; particularly those who travel between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on daily basis. A CDA official told Pakistan Today that most of the work has been completed and only some minor things remained, such as the filling of the dug roadsides, the installation of blocks on roadsides and the installation of pedestrian bridges.
The official said that these minor works, which are causing most of the inconvenience, were not part of the original Zero Point project. Regarding the faulty design of the Zero Point Interchange, the official said that problems had arisen due to changes made to original design of the interchange. He said that the construction of the Rs700 million Pakistan National Monument had caused these changes to be made.
He also informed that the city’s officials were unable to have the site of the monument changed as it was chosen by the former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007. The official said that non payment of dues to contractors had also halted work on a number of occasions. The project, which was scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2010, failed to meet another three deadlines set for it; December 31, 2010, April 20, 2011 and June 30, 2011.