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Ban on tenders halts Zero Point Interchange plan
Islamabad—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is
all set to initiate construction work on Zero Point Interchange
early next month that only awaits government’s nod on announcement
of tenders above Rs 50 million by the Authority.
The multi-million project has been lingering since 90s due to its
intricate designing, high cost and above all, alternate solution to
mammoth traffic on the main intersection and also a gateway to the
hilly areas like Murree.
Senior CDA official said Sunday that the Authority has completed the
homework on the project including its designing and alternate routes
have also been designed to be opened during the construction of the
signal-free intersection. However, he said that another bottleneck
has come across after the government has imposed ban on announcing
of tenders above the value of Rs50 million.
He said the Authority would finalize the shortlisting of one of five
interested companies by end of May, which have already submitted
their proposals and the Authority would announce the tenders for the
award of contract for the execution of the project.
Among five interested firms are M/s Sachal, M/s Habib Rafiq, M/s
Usmani, M/s Maqbool Associates and M/s Associated Constructors.
“The project would incur Rs2, 273 million and it would take another
two years to complete,” he said.
He said the Authority has also received the final design of the
project vetted by Col. (Retd) Iqbal Haq, a National Highway
Authority (NHA) consultant.
He said the design of the interchange would resemble ‘clover leaf’
which would include loops, slip roads, pre-stressed girder bridges,
piling, underpasses, reinforced earth walls and pedestrian bridges.
The official said in the first phase, the Authority would construct
four slip roads to bypass the traffic from project site to the main
highways. The official rejected the notion that any of the loops has
been dropped as National Monument was impeding the project.
“No doubt, the monument is restricting us but we have managed it
without affecting the monument,” he said adding that a tunnel would
be constructed along with the monument.
He said the project would consist of 12 underpasses and flyovers,
adding that the intersection would have no signal and all the roads
would be constructed four-lane. In addition, a tunnel would also be
constructed alongwith. He said the Authority would also have the
provision for future expansion and Mass Transit System that is yet
in the designing phase.—APP
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