FWO Resumes Work on Karachi Red Line BRT Project
Sindh CM sets 90-day deadline for key corridor completion
Karachi (April 26, 2026): Construction work on the Bus Rapid Transit Red Line project has resumed, with Frontier Works Organisation taking over development activities on a key section of the project, Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed on Sunday.
According to Wahab, work has restarted on University Road, one of the most critical stretches of the project. He added that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has set a 90-day deadline for the completion of the mixed traffic corridor and drainage system.
“Work on University Road has resumed from today by FWO,” Wahab said, noting that the provincial government aims to complete the remaining work within three months to ease public inconvenience.
Sources revealed that the construction of mixed traffic lanes under Red Line Lot 2 has been handed over to Frontier Works Organisation, while the main corridor contract for this segment has not yet been awarded to any contractor.
The development follows the termination of the previous contract for Lot 2 — covering the Mosamiyat to Numaish corridor — due to persistent delays and unsatisfactory performance. Officials indicated that the decision was influenced by concerns raised by the Asian Development Bank regarding the slow pace and quality of work.
During a recent visit, the Asian Development Bank delegation also flagged issues related to health, safety, and environmental standards, stating that the project failed to meet required benchmarks. Subsequently, formal proceedings were initiated to terminate the agreement, and authorities sealed the contractor’s office associated with the project.
The Red Line BRT project, launched in 2022 with an initial completion target of 30 months, was originally expected to be finished by June 2024. However, repeated delays, financial disputes, and operational challenges have pushed the timeline significantly.
The project is divided into two segments: Lot 1, from Airport Signal to Mosamiyat, and Lot 2, from Mosamiyat to Numaish — the latter being the more problematic section due to execution issues.
Meanwhile, residents of Karachi continue to face significant inconvenience, including traffic congestion and disrupted routes, as construction work progresses. Authorities hope that the resumption of work under Frontier Works Organisation will accelerate completion and bring relief to commuters.
