BRT Red Line Project Offices Sealed Over Delay and Unsatisfactory Progress in Karachi

The Sindh Government terminated the Lot-2 contract for the BRT Red Line Karachi on April 22, 2026. This decisive move follows persistent delays and severe safety violations on the University Road corridor. Authorities are now pivoting to an emergency multi-contract strategy to rescue the city’s most anticipated transit project.

On April 22, 2026, the Sindh Government finally ran out of patience. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed the termination of the BRT Red Line Lot-2 contract, spanning from Mosamiyat to Numaish.

The decision follows a scathing review from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). During a recent site visit, ADB officials expressed extreme displeasure over the slow progress and poor health and safety standards. The contractor, a joint venture of CR3 and AMS Associates, failed to meet critical milestones despite multiple warnings. In response, the government sealed the project offices. The contractor has now challenged this move in the Sindh High Court, blaming the state for early design flaws.

Instead of relying on one massive contract, the government will split the remaining Lot-2 work into smaller, manageable packages. This emergency strategy aims to award contracts to multiple firms simultaneously to accelerate construction.

While Lot-1 work from the Airport to Mosamiyat continues, the overall timeline has shifted. The initial BRT Red Line project cost of Rs79 billion has surged past Rs103 billion due to inflation and currency shifts. Experts now eye a 2027 completion date.

BRT Red Line Project Data Overview