Since 2020, the construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Orange Line on University Road has turned what was once a wide and smooth corridor into a broken, dangerous stretch of asphalt. This project, promised as a leap toward modern urban mobility has instead left commuters trapped in a daily nightmare of congestion, hazards and uncertainty.
University Road is not just another artery of Karachi. It is the academic and intellectual hub of the city, home to Sir Syed University, Federal Urdu University, NED University, the University of Karachi, UET and dozens of schools and colleges. Tens of thousands of students, teachers and office goers depend on this road every day. Yet the conditions they face are nothing short of punishing.
On most days, commuters encounter endless traffic bottlenecks worsened by encroaching street vendors, reckless public transport drivers and half-finished construction zones. During the rainy season, the situation descends into chaos. Standing water near NIPA and other intersections hides gaping potholes, open gutters with missing lids and uneven surfaces that become death traps, especially for motorcyclists. For students rushing to make classes, this means a constant risk of injury on what should be a routine journey to education.
The problem extends beyond physical danger. Conversations with students and daily commuters reveal deep psychological impacts. Many describe constant anxiety, frustration and exhaustion from being stuck in traffic or narrowly avoiding accidents.
The reckless behaviour of bus and chingchi drivers has only compounded the crisis. With no real alternatives available, students are forced to board overcrowded, unsafe vehicles. The absence of enforcement or accountability allows such practices to continue unchecked, putting lives at risk on a daily basis.
Crossing University Road is itself another hazard. With only one rusting pedestrian bridge — missing steps, broken side railings and offering little sense of security — safe crossing options are nearly non-existent. That bridge, instead of being a solution, has become a hotspot for muggings during less busy hours.
It does not have to be this way. Completing the BRT project with urgency and transparency, ensuring proper drainage, repairing road surfaces, enforcing traffic rules and restoring pedestrian safety infrastructure are all achievable steps. What is missing is political will and accountability. Until those in power prioritise the needs of ordinary citizens, the “dilemma of daily commuters” will remain not just an inconvenience but a deep scar on the city’s social and civic fabric.
Alina Khan
Karachi
