Newly opened Red Line stretch sinks within days

KARACHI: A recently reopened section of the Red Line project on University Road has developed depressions within days of being opened to traffic, adding to public concern over the quality of work and the prolonged disruption linked to the scheme.

According to residents cited in the report, the stretch between Safari Park and Nipa Chowrangi had been completed and opened for traffic by the authorities, but parts of the road soon began to sink at several locations. The affected portions have reportedly developed depressions measuring around four to six inches.

The situation has also raised safety concerns because sewerage manhole covers on the same stretch have been installed above the road level. Residents said the uneven surface, combined with the raised covers, has created dangerous conditions for road users, especially motorcyclists.

Citizens fear the condition of the road could lead to serious accidents as vehicles continue to pass through the area. The latest problems have further deepened frustration among people living in and travelling through the corridor, where construction activity has already caused major inconvenience for an extended period.

Concerns over construction quality

The Red Line project on University Road has increasingly become a source of public frustration, with residents questioning the standard of construction work being carried out. The emergence of visible damage so soon after the road was opened has intensified those concerns.

Residents described the ongoing work as a prolonged ordeal. They said the project has caused severe hardship over the past four and a half years because of delays and continued disruption in the area.

The sinking of the newly opened section has added to complaints already associated with the project, which has affected daily commuting and traffic movement on one of Karachi’s busiest roads.

Traffic diverted after closure

Following the appearance of the depressions and other issues on the road surface, traffic has now been shifted to an adjacent route. The affected stretch was reportedly closed again so that corrective work could be carried out.

The latest development means commuters on University Road are once again facing changes in traffic flow after the brief reopening of the section. Residents say the repeated opening and closure of road segments has compounded the difficulties already caused by the long-running construction.

The combination of road subsidence and improperly levelled manhole covers has turned the newly opened portion into a hazard, prompting renewed concern among citizens over both safety and execution standards on the Red Line corridor.