1 killed as under construction Red Line structure collapses on Karachi’s University Road

On Wednesday, a security guard was fatally injured in Karachi when the under-construction bridge structure of the Red Line project collapsed near Baitul Mukarram mosque on University Road, according to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122. The victim was carrying out his security duties at the site when the structure crumbled, the spokesperson reported.

Rescue 1122 swiftly dispatched a team to the scene following a report from the Central Command and Control Centre. The incident occurs amid ongoing construction of the Red Line project, which has been delayed multiple times. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had recently stated that efforts were being made to complete the ongoing work and restore traffic flow on University Road.

Work on the Red Line resumed in November 2025 after bottlenecks were addressed following intervention by the chief minister. However, thousands of commuters on University Road continue to face daily challenges due to the stalled construction. The BRT Red Line project, spanning approximately 27 kilometers from Malir Halt to Numaish via University Road, was announced in 2017 with an initial budget of around Rs79 billion.

Despite initial completion targets of 2023, the project has been pushed back to the end of 2026. Delays have been attributed to disputes with contractors, safety measures, rising construction costs due to the depreciation of the rupee, difficulties in land acquisition, utility relocation, and coordination issues between implementing agencies.