Water system crippled by BRT work

KARACHI: Water supply to several Karachi neighbourhoods was suspended on Saturday after a 48-inch-diameter main pipeline was damaged during construction work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit project along University Road, according to officials of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC).

KWSC officials said an 8 to 10-foot section of the main water line was damaged during excavation near Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 1 in the Safoora area. The rupture led to a major leak, after which the utility shut down supply and began emergency repairs.

The disruption affected multiple localities, including parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg and Sharifabad. Residents in these areas faced serious inconvenience as supply remained cut amid high temperatures.

According to KWSC officials, restoration work was being carried out on an emergency basis, and the damaged pipeline was expected to be repaired within 24 to 48 hours. The officials also said this was the fifth recent instance in which a water pipeline had been damaged during ongoing Red Line construction activity along the corridor.

The repeated incidents have raised concerns about coordination between utility agencies and infrastructure project execution. The latest breakdown has added to pressure on a city already dealing with water shortages and increased demand during the summer season.

The disruption has also increased reliance on water tankers in affected areas, adding to difficulties for residents as Karachi continues to face long-running infrastructure and service delivery problems.