Karachi's BRT Red Line faces further delays after CAA's objection

Karachiites hoping for relief in public transportation will have to wait even longer, as the much-anticipated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project faces at least a two-year delay, potentially extending its completion timeline to December 2026 or beyond.

Senior Sindh Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon shared the disappointing update, citing objections from stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as a major hurdle.

The multi-billion-rupee project, which has been under construction for the last three years, is expected to take even longer than initially planned.

Speaking to journalists during his visit to the BRT Yellow Line construction site, Memon expressed frustration over the slow progress, blaming utility services such as power, gas, and telecom providers for delaying the relocation of infrastructure.

“We had December 2026 as a target in our mind, but it looks quite tough. I don’t think it will be ready by then,” said Sharjeel Memon, visibly frustrated with the situation.

Read more: Delayed BRT project a constant nuisance for Karachiites

With the project stuck in bureaucratic and logistical roadblocks, hundreds of thousands of commuters relying on University Road will continue to face severe travel difficulties on broken and damaged roads until the project finally sees completion.

Objections:

CAA’s Objections: Despite issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) earlier, the CAA has now raised concerns over one of the three structural components of the project, forcing a possible redesign.

Drainage System Controversy: The CAA initially approved the drainage design, but after 50% of the work was completed, they demanded a redesign, further stalling progress.

Utility Relocation Delays: Essential services operated by both government and private companies are taking too much time to shift their infrastructure, further slowing down construction.