The Sindh High Court (SHC) has instructed the Sindh government to restore Karachi University Road within a two-month timeframe, while deeming the sealing of a contractor’s office and machinery involved in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line Lot-2 project as unlawful.
This ruling was made during hearings concerning the sealing of the contractor’s office and machinery amidst the ongoing construction of the BRT Red Line project.
Throughout the proceedings, the constitutional bench noted that the worsening state of University Road was causing major difficulties for commuters and disrupting traffic flow on one of Karachi’s most heavily trafficked roads.
The court also approved that authorities must ensure construction activities do not block public or private transportation along the route and instructed the provincial government to quickly improve traffic conditions within a timeline of two months.
Red Line BRT to be fully functional by October 2027
The SHC commented that the BRT Red Line project is expected to be operational by October 2027 and allowed the government to allocate or reallocate additional funds as necessary.
As per Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the reconstruction project from Safoora Chowrangi to Numaish is being executed independently by the Sindh government to facilitate smoother traffic flow while the Red Line construction is ongoing.
This recent court order follows months after Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah publicly expressed regret to Karachi residents regarding the state of University Road and announced its reconstruction within 90 days in response to increasing criticism and public grievances.
Read more: Sindh Transport Minister calls Red Line BRT ‘lifeline of Karachi’s future’
