Depressions have developed in the Zero Point Interchange (ZPI), a multi-billion rupees project, even before its full-fledge completion, thanks to an incompetent contractor and indifferent attitude of the civic body, which is supposed to oversee the development projects of the city.
The small size cracks and depressions, which have surfaced on the main bridge, raise serious question about the sensibility of the Zero Point Interchange Project (ZPIP) worth Rs 4.07 billion. The project was to be completed in September 2010 but the construction work is still underway; however, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani inaugurated it a couple of month ago.
“It is matter of concern as cracks have been appearing on the newly-constructed bridge and roads of ZPI,” said Muhammad Rafiq, a motorist who is a frequent user of the Faisal Avenue.
Another citizen, Ali Nawaz who was standing on the bridge along with his car, told Pakistan Today that he was unable to move his car from the spot after it struck a big crater.
After the construction of the interchange, people are facing difficulties while crossing over from Sector G-7 to Sector G-8 as there is no pedestrian bridge for them. Their lives are exposed to risk because of the fast moving vehicles on the newly-constructed highway.
“It is difficult for people to cross the eight-lane highway,” said Naeem Ullah, a resident of Sector G/7.
It is important to note that a black listed firm was hired as designing consultant for the ZPIP project, which also architected the design of the Sher Shah Bride in Karachi that collapsed shortly after its construction, killing five precious lives.
The motorists demanded the prime minister to take notice of the serious matter.
During the visit to the interchange, Pakistan Today observed a number of crackers on the Kashmir Highway while a major depression was visible at the Faisal Avenue.
ZPIP Project Director Mumtaz Hussain told Pakistan Today that it was a liability of the contractor to remove the faults. “The defect liability periods for major roads after the completion of projects are generally stipulated for a year but it is two years for the ZPIP,” he said.
He said under the contract, the contractor was obligated to rectify, rehabilitate and rework these defective areas at his own cost during the defect liability period; therefore, there was no question of loss of public money.
