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Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab said that the red line project caused him embarrassment, saying, “May Allah help us complete this project and bring us out of this state.”
Speaking to the media, Wahab admitted that the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has been delayed and will now take two more years to complete.
He added that Sindh’s Transport Minister is working hard to push forward the stalled Red Line BRT project.
The Red Line is part of Karachi’s larger mass transit plan and was originally expected to ease travel issues across the city. However, repeated delays have now stretched the timeline significantly.
Project Timeline
The Red Line BRT project in Karachi was approved in November 2019, backed by funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), French Development Agency (FDA), and Green Climate Fund (GCF), while the construction of the project began in March 2022, starting from Tank Chowk near Malir Halt to Safoora Chowrangi.
In August 2024, Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon said the project would be finished by the start of 2026, despite delays under the caretaker government.
By May 2024, new estimates suggested the completion would likely be pushed to June 2026 due to rising costs and design changes.
Project Overview
The 26.5-kilometer route will stretch from Malir Halt to Numaish Chowrangi, passing major points like Model Colony, Safoora Goth, and University Road.
There will be 24 stations, and 213 buses will operate on the route — including biogas-powered vehicles, a first in Pakistan’s BRT history.
Current Status
Despite delays, the Sindh government is committed to complete the project with a new completion target of 2027.
