Karachi: The much-delayed Karimabad underpass project, already a symbol of slow progress and missed deadlines in Karachi’s urban development, has been dealt another blow as heavy rains in recent days filled the incomplete structure with water. The flooding has not only stalled construction activities but also provided contractors with, as many residents put it, “another convenient excuse” for extending the timeline further.

Despite multiple promised inauguration dates, the underpass remains unfinished, and the current state of affairs strongly suggests that it may not be operational for traffic in the foreseeable future.

Government’s Immediate Response

According to a spokesperson for the Sindh government, emergency pumping operations have begun to clear the rainwater from the site. He emphasized that the provincial administration is making “every possible effort” to ensure the project’s early completion. Furthermore, he added that construction work would now be monitored daily to ensure accountability and progress.

However, locals have grown skeptical of such assurances, noting that similar promises have been made repeatedly over the past two years with little visible change on the ground.

Escalating Costs: From Billions to More Billions

The Karimabad underpass project was initiated in April 2023 with an initial budget allocation of Rs 1.35 billion. Since then, due to prolonged delays and rising expenses, the project’s cost has ballooned to over Rs 3.8 billion.

Initially, April 2025 was announced as the deadline for completion. Later, August 2025 was suggested for inauguration, followed by a revised promise that the underpass would be opened for traffic on September 30, 2025. But even now, more than two years since work began, only one track’s excavation has been completed.

Urban analysts note that, judging by the current pace, it may take at least another year — until September 30, 2026 — before the underpass becomes operational.

Voices of Frustration from Residents

The situation has become a source of frustration for residents of Karimabad and surrounding areas. Commuters face severe traffic jams every day, while detours increase travel times significantly. The recent flooding has worsened matters, turning the underpass into a waterlogged hazard rather than a solution to congestion.

One resident commented:

“At this pace, they will need another year to complete it. We’ve been given several dates, but deadlines keep shifting. Now the rain has made it even worse.”

The public’s patience is wearing thin as the project, which was meant to ease congestion, has instead created new choke points and risks.

Businesses at Breaking Point

Perhaps the worst hit have been the shopkeepers and small business owners in and around the Karimabad area. For the last two years, the Meena Bazaar market and adjoining shopping areas have seen sharp declines in customer footfall due to blocked access roads and lack of parking facilities.

Dozens of shops have shut down permanently, while two petrol stations in the vicinity remain closed because of the construction site. Remaining traders say they are barely surviving, struggling to pay shop rents and electricity bills.

A shopkeeper explained:

“Business has collapsed. People can’t even reach our shops because of blocked roads. Many have shut their shops and left. We can’t pay bills, we can’t pay rent — how long can we survive like this?”

The commercial paralysis of such a busy locality has also affected the city’s economy, with losses estimated in millions of rupees.

Karachi’s Larger Infrastructure Problem

The Karimabad underpass is not an isolated case. Karachi has a long list of unfinished or delayed infrastructure projects, including flyovers, bridges, and drainage systems. Most suffer from similar problems: poor planning, weak monitoring, inadequate funding flows, and lack of transparency in contracting.

Projects that should take one year to complete often drag on for three or four years, with costs spiraling out of control. Citizens are left bearing the brunt in the form of traffic congestion, business losses, and declining quality of urban life.

Political Fallout and Criticism

The delay has turned into a political liability for the Sindh government. Opposition parties accuse the provincial leadership of corruption, inefficiency, and neglect of Karachi’s infrastructure needs. They argue that the flooding of the Karimabad underpass reflects not just heavy rain but poor pre-construction planning, particularly the failure to install temporary drainage mechanisms at the site.

In response, government officials maintain that unforeseen challenges like climate-induced heavy rainfall are partly to blame, but critics insist these excuses are part of a larger pattern of mismanagement.

The Way Forward: Promises of Accountability

In light of the public outcry, the Sindh government has announced daily monitoring of construction activities, stricter oversight of contractors, and the possibility of imposing penalties for further delays. Officials have also hinted at increasing workforce shifts to accelerate progress.

Still, skepticism remains high. Until citizens see real, visible progress, most believe the underpass will remain yet another symbol of Karachi’s broken promises in urban development.

A Symbol of Urban Governance Failure

What was envisioned as a flagship project to ease traffic congestion in a key commercial corridor has instead become a case study in mismanagement. The Karimabad underpass today stands as a flooded construction site, burdened by ballooning costs, missed deadlines, and lost business opportunities.

Karachi, a city of over 20 million, urgently needs reliable infrastructure to keep pace with its growing population and economy. Yet projects like Karimabad highlight the deep flaws in governance and planning that continue to hold the city back.

Conclusion

The Karimabad underpass was supposed to be a solution; instead, it has become a source of suffering for residents, traders, and commuters alike. With costs nearly tripled, businesses collapsing, and deadlines repeatedly missed, the latest rain-induced flooding has only deepened uncertainty.

For now, the underpass remains waterlogged, incomplete, and symbolic of Karachi’s ongoing struggle to build infrastructure that truly serves its citizens. Until accountability mechanisms are strengthened and planning improves, projects like Karimabad will continue to “drown” in both rainwater and public disappointment.