Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has apologised to citizens for the delay in construction work on University Road and assured that the mixed traffic lanes will be restored within three months.
Speaking to the media during his visit to the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on Sunday, the CM said the Sindh government was fully aware of the difficulties being faced by commuters and was committed to providing relief by completing the work as soon as possible.
Shah announced that the tender for the main corridor of Red Line BRT Lot II would be reissued. He added that discussions had already been held with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) director general assured the Sindh government that construction activities at the site would resume within the next two to three days.
The CM stated that the mixed traffic stretch spanned approximately 12 kilometres and expressed confidence that the work on the mixed traffic lanes would be completed within the stipulated three-month period.
Shah noted that the people of Karachi had high expectations from his government and acknowledged that although the contract for Lot-II was awarded four years ago, the quality of work had not been satisfactory.
Taking responsibility, he guaranteed that the project would now be completed at an accelerated pace, adding that work would continue even during the Eid holidays to ensure timely completion.
The CM visited Lot-II of the project to review the progress. He added that the pace of construction would be accelerated within the next few days, after which work would continue round the clock in day and night shifts to ensure timely completion.
Meanwhile, posting on X, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab stated on Sunday that the FWO had started work on the Red Line BRT. The announcement came four days after the Sindh government cancelled the construction contract for the BRT and stated that the contract would be re-awarded on an emergency basis.
TransKarachi, in a statement, had said the decisive action had been taken over slow progress on Lot II of the project. “The contract awarded to the CR3 and AMS Associates joint venture was terminated due to continuous delays, non-satisfactory performance, and violations of health, safety, and environmental standards.”
Later, the contractor of the project approached the Sindh High Court (SHC), seeking the de-sealing of the construction site after the provincial government sealed the office following contract termination.
The Sindh High Court on Wednesday appointed a commissioner to prepare an inventory from the sealed site of the contractor The Islamabad-based joint venture consortium CR3-AM associates were awarded a Rs15 billion contract for the BRT project-Lot 2 from Mosamiat to Numaish in January 2022.
The petitioners’ counsel Salahuddin Ahmed submitted that the construction of BRT was delayed due to certain acts of the Sindh government-owned company, including design changes, variations, and failure to make part of the site available. He said the petitioners also succeeded in arbitration process, which was binding on the parties.
He said the Sindh government terminated the contract and sealed the premises of the petitioners situated at Aladin Park and were attempting to remove the entire stock, including but not limited to machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, trucks, steel and construction material.
