Islamabad: Progress News & Updates (Part II)
$20mn Modern flyover for capital city ( Islamabad )
August 17, 2005 ISLAMABAD: Pakistani capital Islamabad is all set to have an impressive international standard flyover at the entrance to the city at a cost of $20mn, official sources said here yesterday.
The consultant hired by the Capital Development Authority has finalized a design for the construction of the much awaited Zero Point Interchange to be undertaken at a cost of Rs1bn to address the long standing problem of traffic jam in the federal capital.
Currently, the design is being reviewed by CDA, which would be sent to the Planning Division for active consideration.
According to CDA Member Engineering Brig (retd) Ghulam Akbar Bukhari, a Karachi-based firm, Loya Associates, has prepared the final design for Zero Point Flyover that will be presented to the CDA Development Working Party (CDAWP) after being approved by the Planning Division.
He said that Loya Associates made several designs for this project during the last one year, of which the final plan has been selected.
All the financial resources will be provided by the CDA budget for the construction of interchange and no funds to be demanded from the Federal Government, Bukhari said.
He was of the view that for the first time the CDA history, the government has given financial autonomy to civic authority under which the CDA would be able to under take all mega development schemes through its own financial resources.
The CDA has announced a Rs2bn development oriented budget according to which all the funds will be generated by CDA through own resources.
He said that the modern flyover that would cater to all movements of Islamabad or vehicular traffic coming outside.
It is expected that the Planning Division may okay the interchange design in the current month, he said, adding the total cost of the project could also be reduced with the better management of Engineering Wing.
To a question, Brig. Bukhari said that there is no shortage of funds with CDA and construction of Zero Point flyover would be completed in three years.
Referring to the salient features of the project, the CDA Member Engineering said that there would be no traffic signal at the flyover.
There will be separate and in-dependent routes for all and the traffic coming from Motorway, Islamabad Highway and Jinnah Avenue would pass through the interchange without any interruption, he informed.
It will provide a safe passage and junction for drivers and commuters, he added.
To another question, Brig Bukhari said that Zero Point Interchange would be different and modern than the Faizabad flyover a short distance away at the mouth of Rawalpindi city, which would at large facilitate the general public and commuters.
---Courtesy---
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