Sindh cabinet approves emergency measures to speed up Karachi BRT Red Line project

The Sindh cabinet on Thursday approved steps to accelerate work on the long-delayed Karachi BRT Red Line Project, particularly along the Lot 2 corridor.

The decision was taken during a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

According to a statement, the cabinet approved a high-priority summary submitted by the Transport and Mass Transit Department aimed at fast-tracking construction work on the project.

After the termination of the previous joint venture contractor over repeated delays and failure to meet obligations, the cabinet authorised the emergency appointment of the Frontier Works Organisation under a direct government-to-government contracting arrangement.

The new agreement covers priority construction work on Lot 2 of the project, a 12.85-kilometre section stretching from Numaish Chowrangi to Mosamiyat.

To provide quicker relief to commuters on University Road, the chief minister directed that key infrastructure work be completed within 90 days. The work includes mixed traffic lanes, underpasses, elevated structures, and the drainage system linked to the corridor.

The cabinet also approved emergency off-budget funding for TransKarachi to ensure immediate financial support for the Frontier Works Organisation, which has already started deploying staff and heavy machinery at the site to restore and speed up construction activities.