Zero Point Interchange
{{Short description|Cloverleaf interchange in Islamabad, Pakistan}}
{{Infobox road junction
|country= Pakistan
|name= Zero Point Interchange
|maint= Capital Development Authority
|image= File:Islamabad Monument Zero Point.jpg
|image_caption= An aerial view of Zero Point Interchange, with Pakistan Monument in the background
|location= Islamabad
|coord= {{Coord|33|41|37|N|73|03|54|E|display=title,inline|type:landmark}}
|roads= Islamabad Highway, Srinagar Highway, Khayaban-e-Suharwardy
|type= Cloverleaf interchange
|const= 2008–2011
|contractor= Maqbool Associates (Pvt.) Limited
|opened= {{Start date and age|2011|07|05}}
|height=
|map=
|image_size=290}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Azam |date=2011-06-22 |title=Zero Point Interchange: Another loophole on the winding interchange |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/194513/zero-point-interchange-another-loophole-on-the-winding-interchange |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}
History
File:Highway underpass in Islamabad.jpg
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.{{Cite web |date=2008-09-10 |title=Gilani may inaugurate ZPI project on September 11 |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3551014 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Business Recorder |language=en}} The interchange was designed by ECIL,{{cite web |url=http://www.ecil.com/projects/details/Planning-Detailed-Engineering-Design-and-Construction-Supervision-of-Interchange-at-Zero-Point-Islamabad |title=Planning, Detailed Engineering Design and Construction Supervision of Interchange at Zero Point, Islamabad |publisher=ECIL |access-date=25 June 2020}} and construction work started on 11 September 2008. Mumtaz Hussain served as the project director.{{Cite web |title=Zero point interchange to be formally inaugurated by PM soon. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Zero+point+interchange+to+be+formally+inaugurated+by+PM+soon.-a0257721370 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-02 |title=CDA misses second deadline to complete Zero Point Interchange |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3832805 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=Business Recorder |language=en}}File:Kashmir Highway, Islamabad.jpg]]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,{{cite news |date=30 May 2011 |title=And now presenting: Zero Point Interchange |newspaper=The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/178538/and-now-presenting-zero-point-interchange |access-date=25 January 2012}} 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.
The interchange was formally inaugurated on 5 July 2011 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gillani,{{Cite web |date=5 July 2011 |title=Unprecedented development projects completed despite challenges: Gilani |url=http://www.millat.com/gilani/index.php?page=detail&p=news&id=848 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.millat.com}} though construction work on a loop was still in progress. The construction of the interchange was fully completed in 2012.{{cite news |last=Raza |first=Syed Irfan |date=14 November 2011 |title=Zero Point interchange near finish line |newspaper=Dawn |url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/14/zero-point-interchange-near-finish-line.html |access-date=25 January 2012}}