Gulshan-e-Iqbal BRT structure collapses, duty guard killed

KARACHI: One person was killed after a structure of an under-construction bridge collapsed near Baitul Mukarram Mosque in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of the metropolis, rescue officials said on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122, the victim was working as a duty guard at the construction site when the structure collapsed and trapped him under the debris.

Rescue teams launched an operation at the site and recovered the man’s body from beneath the rubble.

Officials said the rescue operation has now been completed, adding that there were no further casualties or injured people trapped under the debris.

The collapsed structure was part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, according to rescue authorities, the Rescue officials said. They did not immediately say what caused the collapse.

The incident comes amid growing criticism as Karachi’s Red Line BRT project continues to face delays and construction-related challenges.

The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) resumed work on the project’s Lot 2 along University Road in April after authorities terminated the previous contractor’s contract over persistent delays and unsatisfactory performance.

The project, launched in 2022 with a 30-month completion target, was originally scheduled to be completed by June 2024. However, repeated delays have pushed the project well beyond its original deadline.

Lot 2 covers the section between Mosamiyat and Numaish and has faced several setbacks, including work stoppages and disputes between the contractor and authorities.

The Asian Development Bank, which is involved in the project, had also raised concerns over the pace and quality of construction as well as health, safety and environmental compliance, according to Geo News.

The latest incident is likely to raise further questions about safety arrangements at construction sites as authorities continue work on the major transport project.

The project has been divided into Lot 1, from Airport signal to Mosamiyat, and Lot 2, from Mosamiyat to Numaish, with the latter suffering major execution problems.

Construction on Lot 2 — the larger and more troubled segment of the project — has faced recurring setbacks, including prolonged suspensions last year due to financial disputes between the contractor and authorities, which had required court intervention before payments were cleared.

Meanwhile, Karachi residents continue to bear the brunt of the stalled project, facing disrupted routes and heavy congestion on roads.