The Zero Point Interchange (ZPI) Project costing Rs 2.33 billion is waiting for the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to decide the date of its inauguration. Sources in the Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Business Recorder that all is set to begin the construction work but the Authority is waiting for the Prime Minister's decision about the inauguration.
Sources also said that the CDA's civic body has recently forwarded a request to Gilani in this regard. Further, it said that the project has been given to a Karachi-based construction firm called title Maqbool Associates. 'However, the Authority has finalised the design of the national monument to be constructed at Shakarparian hills after making some technical changes.
'Earlier, the design was prepared by a Karachi-based firm, Engineering Consultant International Limited (ECIL), who designed Shershah Bridge in Karachi that collapsed just a month after the inauguration,' sources added. ZPI initially consisted of four loops, but the fourth loop was removed due to in sufficient space, it added. 'The main reason behind skipping the fourth loop is that the Authority cannot bear its maintenance expenses,' it maintained.
However, the experts hold different opinions saying that skipping this loop will decrease the life of the bridge by ten years. The Authority said that Rs 700 million had already allocated for the project during the year 2008-09 and an additional amount would be further allocated in the same financial year.
'The project will be completed within two years of its inauguration so as to avoid any unnecessary delay and the civic body has announced a bonus for the contractors to encourage them meeting the deadline. However, it is of grave concern that the ZPI Project was proposed in 90s, but the work could not be initiated causing the cost to escalate from Rs 400 million to Rs 2.33 billion in 2008. 'The delay along with the increasing cost of the project have already given rise to a number of controversies,' sources disclosed.