The long-delayed Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Karachi’s University Road has entered a new phase, but a fresh dispute has emerged as the contractor accuses the Sindh government of failing to clear outstanding payments and delaying the provision of designs – many of which were outdated – significantly contributing to the project’s delays.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that the government has engaged the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) on an emergency basis to complete around 12 kilometres of the mixed-traffic corridor under Lot 2, citing poor performance by the contractor, who failed to meet project deadlines.
It is worth noting here that the contract has not yet been awarded to any other contractor and only the mixed-traffic corridor under Lot 2 has been assigned to FWO.
Visit Times of Karachi website for the latest news-related content
On the other hand, the ex-contractor of the Red Line BRT project, Ameer Jan, in an interview to ARY News claimed that months of delayed and unpaid dues badly affected construction work and made it difficult to keep operations running.
He maintained that financial constraints – not poor performance – were the main cause of the project’s slowdown.
The contractor further stated that frequent design changes and delayed approvals compounded the issue, but stressed that without timely payments, even well-planned work could not proceed.
He stated that his team had already procured materials based on designs provided earlier but only to face losses due to the frequent changes in the designs by the authorities.
In addition to payment disputes, Ameer Jan highlighted persistent technical challenges, including inaccurate utility maps from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KW&SC), which led to repeated changes in construction plans and further escalated costs.
“The team was provided with utility drawings from KWSC showing the pipeline in a specific location, and based on that information, the overhead bridge was initially planned directly above it. However, to avoid interference, the alignment was shifted by 200 meters and piling was carried out at the new site. Despite this adjustment, the same pipeline was encountered again, indicating that the original utility drawings were not accurate,” said Supervisor Consultant Teague Macrine in an interview with Nukta.
Also Read:
Karachi: FWO resumes work on Red Line BRT
He further explained that similar challenges were faced in the Safoora, where old and leaking sewer lines were discovered.
Due to these conditions, the project plan had to be repeatedly revised to accommodate the relocation and repair of these outdated utilities, he said.
He concluded by stating that the overall design responsibility lies with Trans Karachi – a Public Sector Company owned by the Government of Sindh and the implementation agency responsible for the Karachi Red Line BRT.
The Red Line BRT project, backed by the Asian Development Bank, has faced continuous delays since its inception, becoming a major concern for commuters along University Road.
Officials say a new tender process for the remaining work will be initiated after consultations with the ADB, while temporary road restoration is being undertaken to provide some relief to the public.
About FWO:
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is one of Pakistan’s leading engineering and construction organizations, known for its role in large-scale infrastructure development projects across the country.
FWO built a strong reputation for delivering complex engineering work in challenging environments. Over the years, FWO has been involved in road networks, bridges, tunnels, dams, and urban development projects.
Follow the Times of Karachi channel on WhatsApp
In recent times, FWO has also played a key role in major urban transport initiatives, including metro and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Its involvement is often sought when projects face delays or require rapid completion due to its technical capacity and organized execution structure.
In Karachi, FWO has recently been assigned work on sections of the Red Line BRT project, where it is expected to accelerate construction and help address long-standing delays in the system.
Overall, FWO is considered a key institution in Pakistan’s infrastructure development landscape, contributing to both national and urban-level engineering projects.
