CM Murad informs the delegation that all hurdles in the project have been removed, the work would now accelerate
The Sindh High Court is hearing a petition regarding the award of the contract for the construction of University Road to an unqualified private contractor. PHOTO: FILE
Development projects underway in Sindh with support from the Asian Development Bank were reviewed by ADB and the Sindh government, including the BRT Red Line, urban transport schemes, infrastructure initiatives and climate resilient projects.
ADB Country Director Emma Fan met with the Chief Minister at the Chief Minister’s House, accompanied by her delegation. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said ADB-supported projects were encouraging to the people of Sindh, describing the bank as a long-standing and trusted development partner of the provincial government. He affirmed that the Sindh government will continue sustainable initiatives in transport, water supply, climate protection and infrastructure, stressing that timely completion of projects remained the government’s top priority.
He assured the ADB delegation that all hurdles in the Red Line project had been cleared and work would now accelerate.
The foundation stone for phase one and phase two of the BRT project, which includes the procurement of buses and civil works, was laid in August 2022 and was expected to be completed in 2024. However, this completion timeline has now been extended to 2026.
The construction of the BRT line has been mired in controversy and criticism as it has resulted in the closure of one of Karachi’s main arteries, University Road. The closure has severely affected traffic from Gulshan-e-Iqbal towards Saddar. Vehicles are being diverted to Shahrah-e-Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road via Aladdin Park and Liaquatabad Road, causing heavy congestion. Similarly, traffic from Shahrah-e-Faisal towards the Central District and Gulshan-e-Iqbal now uses Stadium Road, resulting in frequent queues.
The BRT Rede Line is a multi-million dollar project, with a price tag of $503.3 million, of which the Asian Development Bank will provide $235 million, the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank will provide $71.81 million, the French Development Agency $71.81 million, while the Green Climate Fund will provide $11.8 million and $3 million in loans2. whereas the Sindh government will cover the remaining $75.71 million.
Read: Karachi commuters face gravel as University Road is closed until the end of the year
The project involves 96-inch and 72-inch pipelines along the Red Line corridor, delivering an additional 260 million gallons of water per day to Karachi and connecting the main K-IV filtration plants to the city’s existing network. The work is carried out in stages along both tracks of Universitetvejen.
Residents have long endured overflowing drains, dust and narrowed lanes along University Road, forcing commuters and students to navigate traffic and sewage to reach their destinations.
Opposition parties have criticized the Sindh government. Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Monem Zafar Khan called the city “a maze of broken roads and failed projects”, while PTI leaders accused authorities of corruption and mismanagement.
Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.
Emma Fan has said that ADB will continue its partnership on urban transport and development schemes. She also confirmed that ADB would provide additional funding to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects. The meeting has agreed to strengthen security measures for the BRT line.
Read more: ADB, Sindh launches Rs440m initiative
The progress of Karachi’s TP-4 treatment plant was reviewed. Terming TP-4 as a key project for Karachi, Murad Ali Shah urged ADB to extend its support. The World Bank and ADB are working with the Sindh government on the scheme.
According to the update released by Abdul Rasheed Channa, Media Consultant of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat:
-
The coastal development project is in the final stages of approval and is expected to be cleared soon.
-
Six more Sindh projects worth USD 75 million are also in the approval process.
Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.
Provincial Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, P&D Chairman Najam Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin and other officials attended the meeting. The ADB team included Deputy Country Director Asad Aleem, Program Officer Khayyam Suhail Abbasi and Project Officers Hamid Khan and Adnan Ali.
