- Shahrah-e-Bhutto to reduce traffic pressure in city: Sindh CM.
- CM directs completion of all mixed traffic lanes along the red line.
- Work on BRT Red Line project is progressing at pace: Sindh Minister.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced on Sunday that the Shahrah-e-Bhutto would be opened to traffic before Eid ul Adha, describing the road’s opening as an “Eid gift to the people of Karachi”.
The Sindh CM issued the announcement after an inspection of major infrastructure projects across the city.
“Shahrah-e-Bhutto will significantly reduce traffic pressure in the city and improve connectivity between the M-9 and N-5 highways,” he said, adding that heavy traffic will shift outside the city, bringing relief to Karachi’s residents.
“This road is not just another project; it will serve as a lifeline for Karachi’s economy,” the Sindh CM said.
During an inspection of the Azeempura flyover under construction at Shah Faisal Colony, he directed Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to complete the project within 90 days.
The flyover is part of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, which is being constructed near Shah Faisal Interchange to provide a signal-free passage for traffic to and from Jinnah Terminal and the adjoining areas.
The Sindh CM also directed the authorities to speed up work on the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line corridor and said that all mixed traffic lanes along the Red Line corridor should be completed within two months.
“The Red Line and Shahrah-e-Bhutto are critical corridors for the city and there will be no unnecessary delays or compromise on quality,” he added.
Separately, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon defended delays in the BRT Red Line project, saying difficult but necessary decisions had been taken to move the work forward.
“This delay was not due to the government’s negligence,” Memon told the media during his visit to the Red Line project site.
He said work on Lot-1 and Lot-2 was progressing at a pace, especially after Frontier Works Organization (FWO) was assigned responsibility.
The minister added that the former contractor had been issued warnings and payments were approved, but the pace of work did not improve.
Acknowledging the public inconvenience, Memon said the authorities were aware of the difficulties faced by commuters due to the ongoing construction.
However, he emphasized that infrastructure work in urban centers like Karachi presented unique challenges.
The work in cities is much more complicated, he said, explaining that the authorities cannot immediately shut down gas, electricity and water lines.
The minister said efforts were underway to reopen mixed carriageways by the end of July to ease congestion.
