SHC orders Sindh govt to restore University Road within two months

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the provincial government to make Karachi’s University Road fully operational within two months, while also declaring the sealing of machinery belonging to the contractor for BRT Red Line Lot 2 illegal.

A two-member constitutional bench announced the ruling in a petition related to the sealing of the contractor’s office and machinery associated with the Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project.

In its order, the court said residents had been facing serious difficulties because of the poor condition of University Road and instructed the Sindh government to ensure uninterrupted movement of both public and private transport on the route.

The bench said the provincial government could allocate or reallocate additional funds to complete the work within the timeframe set by the court. It also made clear that construction work on the BRT project must not affect traffic flow on University Road under any circumstances.

The court further observed that the BRT Red Line project was expected to become operational by October 2027.

Machinery dispute and contract provisions

According to the written order, if TransKarachi considers the machinery necessary under clauses 17, 18 and 19 of the agreement, it may keep possession of the machinery in line with the contract. However, the matter is to be referred to the Dispute Resolution Board.

The court directed that if the board does not issue a decision within 30 days, the machinery should be returned. It also noted that disputes arising from the BRT Red Line agreement would be settled through arbitration and the dispute resolution mechanism provided under the contract.

The written judgment said Advocate General Sindh informed the court that Rs15 billion had already been paid out of the total project cost of Rs16 billion.

It was also submitted before the court that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had taken back the Aladdin Park land after the lease agreement expired.

The court ruled that the petitioner remained free to seek legal remedies under the contract regarding termination of the agreement. Copies of the verdict were ordered to be sent to the chief secretary Sindh and the secretary local government for implementation, while the contractor’s petition was disposed of.

Contractor seeks inquiry

Following the court proceedings, BRT Red Line Lot 2 contractor Amin Jan called for the formation of a high-level commission and an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau, saying the facts behind the stalled project should be made public.

Speaking to reporters, he alleged that the scheme had been reduced to road construction while the main Bus Rapid Transit system remained unfinished. He also warned that at the current pace, the Red Line might not be completed even over the next 30 years.