KARACHI: A duty guard was killed on Thursday after a structure belonging to an under-construction Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project collapsed near Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, rescue officials said.
According to Rescue 1122, the victim was performing security duties at the construction site when the structure collapsed, trapping him beneath the debris.
Rescue teams immediately launched an operation at the site and recovered the man’s body from underneath the rubble.
Officials said the rescue operation was completed after the victim was recovered and confirmed that no other people were trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The structure was part of the BRT project, rescue authorities said. The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
Red Line BRT project faces repeated delays
The incident comes as Karachi’s Red Line BRT project continues to face delays and construction-related challenges.
The project was launched in 2022 with an initial completion target of 30 months, meaning work was originally expected to be completed by June 2024. However, repeated setbacks have pushed the project well beyond its original deadline.
The project is divided into two major sections. Lot 1 covers the route from Airport signal to Mosamiyat, while Lot 2 extends from Mosamiyat to Numaish.
Lot 2 has experienced particularly significant delays and execution problems, including work stoppages and disputes between contractors and authorities.
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FWO resumes work on troubled section
The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) resumed construction work on Lot 2 along University Road in April after authorities terminated the previous contractor’s contract over what they described as persistent delays and unsatisfactory performance.
The section between Mosamiyat and Numaish has faced repeated disruptions, including prolonged suspension of work amid financial disputes between the contractor and authorities.
The disputes had also required court intervention before outstanding payments were cleared and construction could resume.
The Asian Development Bank, which is involved in the project, has previously raised concerns over the pace and quality of construction, as well as compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements.
The latest collapse is likely to draw renewed attention to safety arrangements at construction sites as work continues on the major public transport project.
Meanwhile, Karachi residents continue to face traffic congestion and route disruptions in areas affected by the ongoing construction, adding to public frustration over the prolonged delays to the Red Line BRT.
