Work on Karachi’s Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has once again slowed to a near standstill, with large sections inactive and little progress visible on the ground, raising fresh concerns over project governance and management.
The project has been divided into two main sections: Lot 1, which extends from the airport signal to Mosamiyat, and Lot 2, from Mosamiyat to Numaish. Of the two, Lot 2 is not only broader in scope but also plagued by more serious and recurring problems.
Last year, construction of this stretch remained suspended for several months due to financial disputes between the contractor and the authorities, which even led to court intervention before payments were cleared.
Despite official claims that the matter had been resolved, the pace of work again deteriorated significantly.
From People’s Chowrangi, the absence of machinery at the site speaks of its state of inactivity. Moving along the road towards Hassan Square, you can see that there are only a handful of workers and about three machines, with no active operations underway.
Along the stretch from Hasan Square to Nipa, work was halted due to the laying of the K-IV water pipeline, adding another layer of delay to the already troubled project. Even where machinery was present, none appeared operational, with no drivers or active works visible.
The repeated stoppages and lack of consistent progress on such an important urban transportation initiative have raised serious questions about administrative efficiency and oversight.
Meanwhile, citizens of Karachi continue to face the consequences, enduring disrupted routes, traffic congestion and prolonged uncertainty over the project’s completion.
