One killed as Karachi Red Line structure collapses

A security guard was killed after part of an under-construction structure of Karachi’s Red Line Bus Rapid Transit project collapsed on University Road.

The incident occurred near Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. The victim was reportedly performing security duties at the construction site when the structure gave way.

Rescue 1122 received the emergency call through the Central Command and Control Centre and immediately sent a team to the site. The victim was recovered from the collapsed structure.

The incident comes as construction work on the Red Line project continues amid prolonged delays and traffic problems on University Road.

The project, which is designed to connect Malir Halt with Numaish over a route of around 27 kilometres, was initially announced in 2017 with an estimated cost of about Rs79 billion.

Construction began in 2022, with completion originally planned for 2023. The deadline was later moved to 2024 and then extended to the end of 2026.

Officials have previously cited several reasons for the delays, including contractor disputes, rising construction costs, land acquisition issues, utility relocation and coordination problems among the agencies involved.

Construction on the stalled project resumed in November 2025 after several obstacles were addressed. Authorities have also been working to restore normal traffic movement along University Road.

The latest collapse has raised fresh concerns about safety at the ongoing construction site as thousands of commuters continue to use the busy road every day.