Sharjeel Memon defends Sindh govt progress on 'very tough' BRT Red Line project

KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line had turned out to be a ‘very tough’ undertaking for the provincial government, while maintaining that there had been no delay, mistake or bad faith on the government’s part.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Memon said the Sindh government had to take difficult decisions on the project after ‘all other options were exhausted’. He stated that there had been ‘no mistake, mal-intent or delay’ from the provincial government in relation to the BRT Red Line.

He said work on Lot-1 of the project was continuing ‘with great speed’, while activity on Lot-2 had resumed.

The provincial government recently terminated the construction contract for the BRT Red Line project and later selected the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to restart work on a section along University Road, where commuters have been facing disruption.

The Red Line has been designed as an around 27-kilometre corridor from Malir Halt to Numaish through University Road. Work on the scheme began in early 2022. Although it was initially expected to be completed by 2024, the project has seen repeated delays, and its latest completion target has been extended to 2028.

A week earlier, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had apologised to Karachi residents and announced that the damaged stretch of University Road would be rebuilt within 90 days.

Reiterating that commitment, Memon said, ‘We will try that by the end of July, this road is opened for mixed traffic by working day and night, so that there is no nuisance for the public.’ He added that the government understood the difficulties being faced by citizens, saying, ‘We realise the difficulty being faced by the public, but as they say, you have to swallow a bitter pill to achieve something big.’

Memon said the Sindh government turned to the FWO for reconstruction of University Road after issuing warnings to the contractors and clearing their claims. He added that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had also been taken into confidence regarding the FWO’s role in the road reconstruction.

He said that while the BRT Red Line itself is an ADB-funded project, the rebuilding of University Road would be carried out separately using Sindh government funds. On the bus corridor project, he said the government would proceed with the required legal steps, including re-contracting or re-tendering.

Memon said it would have been ‘very easy’ for the government to simply introduce buses such as the People’s Bus Service, but it had opted to build the BRT system keeping in view the needs of future generations and Karachi’s expanding population. He also criticised political elements for ‘politicising’ the project and said the government’s objective was to complete it.

Murad inspects Red Line works

Separately, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah carried out an early morning visit to the BRT Red Line route from Jail Chowrangi to Nipa, where he reviewed progress on mixed traffic lanes, drainage, asphalt work and traffic management.

According to CM House, the chief minister said, ‘People’s hardship is unacceptable. Roads must be restored tonight, quality cannot be compromised and traffic flow must improve immediately,’ and warned that he would continue surprise inspections to monitor the pace of work.

He directed all departments and contractors to speed up work, restore roads on an emergency basis and ensure that inconvenience to the public was kept to a minimum. He also ordered the immediate start of the remaining work on the Red Line Mosamiyat Flyover so that it could be opened for mixed traffic as soon as possible.

The chief minister was accompanied during the visit by provincial ministers, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and project officials.

Shahrah-i-Bhutto progress reviewed

After inspecting the Red Line project, Murad also reviewed progress on Shahrah-i-Bhutto. He was informed that the 38-kilometre corridor from Jam Sadiq Interchange to M-9 Kathore Interchange had reached 93 per cent completion.

Officials told him the project was now targeted for completion by June 30, 2026, while efforts were being made to open it for public use before Eidul Azha.

Murad described Shahrah-i-Bhutto as a ‘gift for people of Karachi’ and said it would help reduce traffic congestion, divert heavy traffic outside the city and improve connectivity between the M-9 and N-5 highways. He also called it a ‘lifeline for Karachi’s economy’.