Deadline Set for Reopening of Karachi’s University Road

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Sindh government to restore Karachi’s University Road within two months while declaring the sealing of the office and machinery of a contractor working on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line Lot-2 project illegal.

The ruling was issued during hearings related to the sealing of the contractor’s office and machinery amid ongoing construction work on the BRT Red Line project.

During the proceedings, the constitutional bench observed that the deteriorating condition of University Road was causing severe difficulties for commuters and disrupting traffic flow on one of Karachi’s busiest roads.

The court ordered authorities to ensure that construction activities do not obstruct public or private transport on the route and directed the provincial government to immediately improve traffic conditions within two months.

The SHC observed that the BRT Red Line project is expected to become operational by October 2027 and allowed the government to allocate or reallocate additional funds if required.

The latest court order comes months after Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah publicly apologized to Karachi residents over the condition of University Road and announced its reconstruction within 90 days following growing criticism and public complaints.

According to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the reconstruction project from Safoora Chowrangi to Numaish is being carried out independently by the Sindh government to ensure smoother traffic flow while Red Line construction continues.