Work on the Red Line BRT project section from Numaish to Mosmiat in Karachi is unlikely to resume for at least another month, as authorities have not yet awarded a new construction contract. According to TransKarachi, bids for Lot 2 were submitted on October 8, and the proposals will now be reviewed and shortlisted.
Waiting for the Lot 2 contract
This 12.8-kilometre section has been suspended since April, when the Sindh government cancelled the previous contractor’s contract because of delays to the project. TransKarachi, the project’s implementing agency, said the tendering process is still underway and approval of the new contract is expected to take about a month.
According to a spokesperson, the process is taking place under the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) guidelines. The official said the time required is part of the necessary procedure.
What does this section include?
The Lot 2 contract includes major infrastructure work on the Numaish–Mosmiat corridor, including dedicated bus lanes, flyovers, underpasses and an elevated U-turn. The section will also have 16 stations to facilitate passengers travelling along the route.
Once the new contract is awarded, the selected contractor will be given 18 months to complete the work. However, authorities have not announced a specific date for its resumption.
Prolonged suspension and impact on the project
The prolonged suspension of work has caused construction-related difficulties for commuters and residents along parts of the corridor. Concerns increased after one person was killed when an elevated structure related to the Red Line project collapsed on University Road. Following the incident, TransKarachi confirmed that work at the affected sites had been suspended since the previous contract was cancelled in April.
Work continues on Lot 1
Meanwhile, construction is continuing on Lot 1, which covers a 9.4-kilometre section between Malir Halt and Mosmiat. This section includes six stations, two depots, flyovers, underpasses and an elevated U-turn.
Its main corridor is scheduled for completion by December 2026, while the extension to Malir Halt is expected to be ready by April 2027.
The ADB-funded Red Line project, which began in March 2022, was initially scheduled to be completed in 30 months. However, following repeated delays, the overall deadline has been extended to June 2028.
