CM orders accelerated completion of BRT Red Line traffic corridor, Shahrah-e-Bhutto project

KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th May, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday carried out detailed inspections of two of Karachi’s largest ongoing infrastructure projects, the BRT Red Line mixed traffic corridor from Numaish to Mosmiyat and the Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, directing all concerned departments to accelerate construction activities and remove hurdles delaying completion of the schemes.

Accompanied by Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, Water board MD Ahmed Siddiqui, and senior officials of K-Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), FWO, and TransKarachi.

The CM reviewed progress on various segments of the projects and stressed that citizens must be provided relief at the earliest.

The CM said Karachi’s people had suffered inconvenience due to prolonged construction activities and directed all executing agencies to ensure visible improvement in traffic management, drainage and road restoration within the next three months.

“This is my fourth visit to the BRT Red Line project within a week because I want every obstacle removed and all deadlines achieved,” the chief minister said, adding that he would personally monitor progress every week.

The CM started his inspection of the BRT Red Line project from Dawood University and reviewed ongoing work up to NIPA, Civic Centre, urdu University, old Sabzi Mandi and other portions of the under-construction corridor.

CEO TransKarachi Zubair Channa briefed the chief minister on the construction of mixed traffic lanes, utility shifting, and drainage works along the route.

Murad Ali Shah directed the authorities to speed up the restoration of mixed traffic lanes to facilitate commuters and ordered all departments to work in coordination for the removal of obstacles affecting the pace of work.

The chief minister was informed that asphalt patchwork on the mixed traffic lane from Numaish to Mosmiyat had been completed, while over 1,700 metres of subgrade work had also been finalised.

The CM was told that work on aggregate base layers, drainage pipelines and water line shifting was progressing rapidly. Officials informed the chief minister that the relocation of the 48-inch diameter water pipeline had entered its final stages, while 63.64 per cent of the work on the major MS water line had been completed.

The CM reviewed the construction of box drains and pipe drains along service roads and directed authorities to speed up drainage-related works by operating additional night shifts. He also inspected the under-construction flyover and U-turn near UK Apartments and directed officials to complete diversion works there within the coming week.

Murad Ali Shah ordered the immediate commencement of work on the under-construction flyover near Mumtaz Manzil and instructed authorities to remove barriers and widen roads near NIPA to ease traffic congestion.

The chief minister was informed that the Mosmiyat flyover and Karachi University U-turn works had been initiated on his directives issued last week. The chief minister directed that both projects be completed within one month.

The FWO briefed the chief minister that emergency works on the Red Line corridor were continuing on a war footing and all available resources had been mobilised to ensure timely completion.

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According to the briefing, mixed traffic lane subgrade works had achieved 6.64 per cent progress, aggregate base works 2.90 per cent, while 600mm pipe drain works had reached 10.70 per cent completion.

The chief minister directed authorities to ensure regular water sprinkling at construction sites to control dust pollution and minimise inconvenience for residents and commuters.

“My objective is to provide Karachi’s people with a world-class transport system as early as possible,” Murad Ali Shah said, adding that the BRT Red Line project represented the future of Karachi’s urban transport network.

Later, the chief minister inspected the Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway project from Shah Faisal Interchange to Kathore Interchange and reviewed ongoing works at various interchanges and flyovers.

The inspection began from the Azeempura flyover near Shah Faisal Colony, which is being constructed to facilitate airport-bound traffic from Shahrah-e-Bhutto.

CM Murad Shah recalled that he had directed the mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, to complete the Azeempura flyover within 100 days and remarked that 61 days had already passed. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab assured the chief minister that the target would be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.

Murad Ali Shah also inspected the Dumlottee and Dumba Goth interchanges and directed officials to complete pending works within one week.

PD Niaz Soomro informed the chief minister that the Shahrah-e-Bhutto project had achieved overall physical progress of 93 per cent and was expected to be completed by June 30, 2026.

The 38-kilometre-long expressway stretches from Jam Sadiq Interchange to Kathore Interchange and was launched on May 12, 2022.

The CM was informed that the project scope had been expanded due to the construction of an additional four-kilometre bridge from Quaidabad Interchange to RD-19, along with route modifications aimed at avoiding the displacement of residents and resolving land acquisition issues.

Officials said all bridges on the expressway had been completed except for the link road causeway bridge at RD-36, where around 50 per cent of the work remained pending.

The briefing further stated that 80 per cent of the work on expansion joints had been completed and the remaining work would be finished within 10 days, while the asphalt wearing course work had reached 85 per cent completion.

The chief minister was also informed that the toll plaza had been completed, and the remaining work between RD-37 and RD-38 was expected to be finalised within the next 15 days.

Murad Ali Shah directed the executing agencies to complete all remaining development work on Shahrah-e-Bhutto by the third week of May and said that the foundation stone for the project linking Shahrah-e-Bhutto with Karachi Port would be laid alongside the inauguration of the expressway.

He emphasised that Karachi’s infrastructure projects must be completed without unnecessary delays so that citizens could benefit from improved mobility, reduced travel time and modern transport facilities.