According to residents facing serious difficulties due to the deteriorating condition of University Road
Frontier Works Organization is taking over work at University Road. PHOTO: MURTAZA WAHAB/X
KARACHI:
After years of traffic chaos, potholed roads and daily misery for commuters in Karachi’s busiest corridor, the Sindh High Court on Thursday ordered the government to make University Road fully operational within two months, while declaring the sealing of machines belonging to BRT contractor Red Line Lot 2 illegal.
A two-member constitutional bench announced the verdict in a petition regarding the sealing of the contractor’s office and machinery related to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project.
In its ruling, the court observed that residents were facing serious difficulties due to the deteriorating condition of University Road and directed the Sindh government to ensure uninterrupted movement of public and private transport on the route.
The bench said the provincial government could allocate or reallocate additional funds to complete the work on time. However, he made it clear that the construction activities of the BRT project should not disrupt traffic on University Road in any way.
The court further observed that the BRT Red Line project is expected to become operational by October 2027.
According to the written order, if TransKarachi finds that the machines are required under clauses 17, 18 and 19 of the agreement, it may retain possession of the machines as per the contract. However, the matter must be referred to the Dispute Resolution Board.
Learn more: Part of the BRT Red Line project entrusted to FWO
The court ordered that if the commission did not issue a decision within 30 days, the machines would have to be returned. He also noted that disputes related to the BRT Red Line agreement would be resolved through arbitration and the dispute resolution mechanism.
The written judgment further stated that the Sindh Advocate General had informed the court that out of the project cost of Rs16 billion, Rs15 billion had already been paid. It was also argued that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation took over the Aladdin Park land after the lease contract expired.
The court ruled that the petitioner remained free to pursue legal remedies under the contract regarding the termination of the agreement. Copies of the verdict were to be sent to the Sindh chief secretary and local government secretary for implementation, while the contractor’s petition was rejected.
