Zero Point Interchange

Zero Point Interchange
An aerial view of Zero Point Interchange, with Pakistan Monument in the background
Map
Location
Islamabad
Coordinates33°41′37″N 73°03′54″E / 33.69361°N 73.06500°E / 33.69361; 73.06500
Roads at
junction		Islamabad Highway, Srinagar Highway, Khayaban-e-Suharwardy
Construction
TypeCloverleaf interchange
Constructed2008–2011 by Maqbool Associates (Pvt.) Limited
OpenedJuly 5, 2011; 13 years ago (2011-07-05)
Maintained byCapital Development Authority

Zero Point Interchange is a large cloverleaf interchange in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is located at the intersection of Islamabad Highway, Srinagar Highway, and Khayaban-e-Suharwardy. It was inaugurated in 5 July 2011, and has an estimated life of 30 years.[1]

History

A by-pass (now demolished) at Zero Point

In 1997, a French firm had been hired to come up with the PC-I of the project, but the Capital Development Authority had rejected it. Technical flaws and political interference led to the project being put on hold five times.[2] The interchange was designed by ECIL,[3] and construction work started on 11 September 2008. Mumtaz Hussain served as the project director.[4] The project was to be completed in two phases: in the first phase, three major loops of the interchange were to be constructed, while in the second, two more loops connecting Shakarparian and Khayaban-e-Suharwardy were to be built.[5]

Zero Point Interchange at night from Srinagar Highway

The first deadline of the project was 31 September 2010 at a cost of Rs. 2.75 billion. This was extended to 31 December 2010 after its cost was revised. Further irregularities forced the cost to rise to Rs. 4.1 billion,[6] but the second deadline was also missed as work on the Islamabad Highway and Srinagar Highway (then known as Kashmir Highway) was still in progress. However, the adjacent link roads had been opened since 98% of the work had been completed.[5]

The interchange was formally inaugurated on 5 July 2011 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gillani,[7] though construction work on a loop was still in progress. The construction of the interchange was fully completed in 2012.[8]

References

  1. ^ Khan, Azam (2011-06-22). "Zero Point Interchange: Another loophole on the winding interchange". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  2. ^ "Gilani may inaugurate ZPI project on September 11". Business Recorder. 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  3. ^ "Planning, Detailed Engineering Design and Construction Supervision of Interchange at Zero Point, Islamabad". ECIL. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Zero point interchange to be formally inaugurated by PM soon. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  5. ^ a b "CDA misses second deadline to complete Zero Point Interchange". Business Recorder. 2011-01-02. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  6. ^ "And now presenting: Zero Point Interchange". The Express Tribune. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Unprecedented development projects completed despite challenges: Gilani". www.millat.com. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  8. ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (14 November 2011). "Zero Point interchange near finish line". Dawn. Retrieved 25 January 2012.