KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday directed all implementing agencies to strengthen coordination to ensure completion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project according to its revised schedule, warning that any further delays would directly affect millions of commuters in Karachi.
The directive was issued during a meeting to review the progress of five active Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded projects with a cumulative value of $1.139 billion. The projects span transport, education, health, social development, financial reforms, water supply and urban development.
Emphasising the importance of mass transit for the city, the chief minister said projects such as the Red Line were essential for Karachi’s long-term mobility needs. He noted that repeated delays had already caused significant inconvenience to residents and stressed that strict coordination among executing agencies was necessary to avoid further slippages.
“Any delay in such projects directly impacts millions of commuters. We must ensure that all executing agencies work closely to meet the revised timelines,” Mr Shah said.
He described the ADB as a key development partner for Sindh, supporting initiatives aimed at improving mobility, public health, education, housing and climate resilience. However, he added that faster execution and improved disbursement levels were required to fully realise the benefits of these investments.
The BRT Red Line, launched in 2017, is a 27-kilometre corridor extending from Malir Halt to Numaish via University Road. Initially estimated to cost around Rs79 billion, the project was scheduled for completion in 2023 after construction began in early 2022. However, multiple challenges have delayed progress.
Officials said the setbacks included disputes with contractors, temporary safety-related stoppages, a depreciating rupee that increased material costs, land acquisition issues, and the relocation of a large number of underground and overhead utilities. As a result, the completion deadline was first revised to 2024 and later extended to the end of 2026.
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Earlier this year, construction work remained suspended for nearly two months due to budgetary pressures and unresolved utility relocation problems. Following the chief minister’s intervention, several bottlenecks were addressed, allowing work to resume. Despite this, authorities have yet to announce a firm completion date.
The Sindh chief minister said that any delays directly affected millions of commuters. “We must ensure that all executing agencies work in close coordination to meet revised timelines,” he added.https://t.co/9XR3Uz2etB
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Reviewing other ADB-supported schemes, Mr Shah said the projects were vital for strengthening education and healthcare systems, supporting housing reconstruction efforts and enhancing climate resilience across Sindh. He reiterated that timely implementation and accelerated fund utilisation must remain the provincial government’s top priorities to ensure tangible benefits for the public.
Officials briefed the meeting on ongoing progress and were instructed to regularly monitor implementation to prevent further delays.
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