Karachi residents are bracing for yet another round of inconvenience as the city’s busy University Road has been closed to traffic from November 10 to December 30 for the installation of new water pipelines.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, following the disruption caused by the Red Line BRT project, the Karachi Water and Sewerage System Improvement Project (KWSSIP) has now begun work under the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s K-4 scheme to lay fresh pipelines along this major route.
According to KWSSIP officials, the stretch of road between Nipa Chowrangi and the Federal Urdu University will remain closed from November 9 to December 30.
Under the K-4 water supply project, a 2.7-kilometre network of pipelines will be laid along University Road.
In the first phase of the augmentation plan, work will be carried out from Nipa Chowrangi to the Federal Urdu University, while the second phase will extend from Hasan Square to Nipa Chowrangi.
During the development work, 96-inch and 72-inch pipelines will be installed as part of the city’s long-awaited K-4 water supply project.
Authorities have set December 30 as the deadline for completing the pipeline installation.
Traffic will be diverted from Nipa Chowrangi towards Alladin Park as an alternate route for commuters during the construction period, officials said.
Sewerage System Improvement Project:
The Karachi Water and Sewerage System Improvement Project (KWSSIP) is a series of projects aimed at improving water supply and sewerage infrastructure in Karachi.
The project includes funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and has components like the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III), which involves sewer and treatment plant upgrades, as well as the K4 project to increase water supply.
The overall goal is to address issues like water scarcity and inadequate sanitation in the city, with specific initiatives like the Trunk Interceptor and sewage treatment plant construction already completed.
Red Line BRT Project:
The Red Line BRT in Karachi is a 26.2-kilometre Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, managed by TransKarachi, that runs from Malir Halt to Tower. The project is financed by organisations like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and is designed to include a dedicated track for non-motorised transport, biomethane hybrid buses, and facilities like bicycle sharing. Due to slow progress, the ongoing construction has caused significant traffic congestion and pollution, with a revised completion timeline of 2026.
Reporter: Shayan Ali