Karachi’s University Road BRT Red Line project sees further delays amid contractor dispute

KARACHI: Work on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line corridor on Karachi’s University Road has run into fresh delays, with large sections showing little visible progress even as the scheme approaches its fourth year.

The project was launched in 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion within 30 months, setting a target of June 2024. However, that deadline has passed, and by 2026 the project remains unfinished after repeated extensions, with no definite completion date announced.

The most serious concerns have emerged in Lot 2, which stretches from Mausumiyat to Numaish and covers a major part of University Road. This section was awarded to a joint venture comprising a local contractor and a Chinese company.

Although the Chinese partner was said to have a strong profile, the work on the ground has largely been managed by the local contractor, who did not have previous experience of handling a project of this scale. Officials have acknowledged that much of the delay is tied to the contractor’s performance.

By comparison, work in Lot 1, including the Race Course area, is moving ahead at a relatively better pace, though it is still slower than required.

Payment dispute slows construction

A major reason for the slowdown is an ongoing financial dispute between the contractor and the Sindh government. Last year, the contractor took the matter to court, after which payments of more than Rs1.5 billion were made. The disagreement has resurfaced, with the contractor seeking additional payments while the government maintains that work should continue on the basis of funds already released.

This deadlock has again reduced work on Lot 2 to near standstill. Labourers are present at some sites, but machinery is largely missing and construction activity remains limited. In several key stretches, including Peoples Chowrangi, Hasan Square and up to NIPA, substantial portions of the corridor are not seeing active work despite their importance to the project.

Even in places such as Mosamiyat, where workers can be seen, the pace has been described as well below what would be needed to meet any meaningful deadline. In some areas, the activity appears largely symbolic, with little substantial headway.

ADB raises concerns

The slow progress has also drawn the attention of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is associated with the project. An ADB delegation currently in Karachi has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of construction during discussions with the authorities.

Government sources further said officials are frustrated with the contractor’s performance, and the option of terminating the contract is under consideration. No final decision has been taken so far, and talks are continuing.

The delays have added to difficulties for commuters on one of Karachi’s busiest roads. Recurring water accumulation on the road has also worsened conditions, with parts of the construction zone turning into flooded patches after rainfall or leakage.

Officials fear the project will continue to miss deadlines unless the financial dispute is settled and full-scale construction resumes, particularly through the deployment of machinery at multiple sites. The prolonged delay has disrupted traffic on a major artery of the city and drawn criticism, with the project increasingly being seen as an example of stalled infrastructure development in Karachi.