KARACHI: The contractor tasked with a section of the long-delayed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project on University Road has approached Sindh High Court, alleging massive cost escalation and deliberate delays, and demanding a probe commission to fix responsibility for years of setbacks that have “paralysed” one of Karachi’s busiest arteries.
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Speaking after filing the petition on Wednesday, the contractor claimed the stretch of road his firm was originally contracted to build for Rs3 billion is now being executed by the government at Rs13 billion. “Some people in the government kept doing all this to make money,” he alleged, without naming individuals.
He further drew a comparison with infrastructure development in Punjab, stating that “Punjab has built many projects including Hazara Motorway but all this happened in Sindh,” referring to the provincial disparity in timely execution of mega projects.
The petition seeks the formation of an inquiry commission to determine the reasons behind the inordinate delay in the Red Line BRT and to identify officials responsible.
Years of gridlock on University Road
The BRT project was announced in 2016 and was initially slated for completion by 2022. Funded largely by the Asian Development Bank, the project has seen repeated deadline extensions due to funding issues, redesigns, contractor disputes, and utility relocation delays.
For Karachi’s residents, the construction has meant years of dust, broken service roads, choked traffic, and frequent accidents along University Road — a vital link connecting several universities, hospitals, and residential areas. Traders and commuters have repeatedly protested what they call “developmental paralysis,” saying the endless construction has hurt businesses and daily commutes alike.
The Sindh government has previously cited technical challenges and cost revisions as reasons for the delay. However, critics argue that poor planning and lack of accountability have turned the project into a symbol of the city’s crumbling infrastructure.
Officials from the Sindh Mass Transit Authority and TransKarachi, the company executing the project, were not immediately available for comment on the contractor’s allegations.
