The Sindh government would ask the contractors to work in three shifts to avoid further delay in the completion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project after resolving their financial issues, Sharjeel Memon, the transport minister said on Sunday.

“We and the contractor have to work round the clock. When some of their issues will be resolved, separate shifts in the morning and evening will work,” he told reporters during a visit to the Jinnah Avenue section of the bus track.

“We will make sure that they employ extra labour to address the delay in the project.”

While proving his point of working three shifts, he said that construction was done in this way around the world, but lamented that there was sluggishness in Pakistan. Memom vowed to speedily work on the project to deliver it to the people.

According to the minister, the work resumed five days ago. The fate of the multibillion rupees transport scheme hanged in the balance amid escalating costs and a halt of construction work.

The project has several components like construction of two separate corridors from Malir Halt Depot to Mausmiyat (Lot-1) and Mosumiyat to Numaish (Lot-2), two bus depots, biogas plant/station and the purchase of buses.

The government awarded the contract for the project in 2020 and construction started in 2022. The Rs79 billion Asian Development Bank funded “Pakistan’s first” biogas based fuel Red Line bus project was supposed to be completed in 2025. There will be 250 buses.

Memon blamed the hyperinflation and higher materials costs for the delay in the project. He also blamed the caretaker setup for not paying attention to the project.

Several students have complained about the pollution and traffic congestion on the route due to the unfinished project. At least three state universities are linked to the track.

Memon said that the issues have to be resolved via the ADB and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council. The contractors have “genuine financial issues,” he said and demanded they finish the Jinnah Avenue section in three months so that the traffic from the M-9 section of Super Highway was not affected.

“Action speaks louder than words. You will see by actions that the government is serious and seriously addressing these issues,” he said and added that the infrastructure has a real cost.

“The major cause of the delay in the project was the transfer of utilities,” he said. Memon apologised to the students who had suffered because of the construction.

He also shared the government has started working on the BRT Yellow Line. “We have to work round the clock to reduce timeframe.”

When asked, he said that the government has asked the K-Electric to not conduct load shedding where buses are being charged.