TransKarachi Explains Space Constraints Behind Narrow University Road U-Turn

TransKarachi has responded to questions about the design of the newly opened elevated single-lane U-turn on University Road, built as part of the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project, saying the structure's dimensions were dictated by the limited road space available along the corridor.

In a joint statement, the authority said the U-turn was designed in line with applicable international standards while accounting for current traffic conditions and the constrained right-of-way on University Road. Officials noted that the same stretch of road must simultaneously accommodate a main carriageway with three lanes in each direction, the dedicated BRT corridor, service roads, car parking, cycling tracks and other supporting infrastructure.

Because of these competing requirements, TransKarachi said there was little room left for additional traffic lanes or wider road structures at the site. The elevated U-turn has therefore been configured to let one car and one motorcycle travel side by side, and officials added that if a vehicle stalls on the structure, another car should still have enough space to pass.

According to the statement, the ramps have a clear width of five metres, while the turning sections measure six metres. The design is intended to handle cars as well as buses of up to 12 metres in length.

TransKarachi also acknowledged that vehicles coming down from the elevated U-turn will merge directly into the existing three-lane traffic flow on University Road, since space constraints ruled out a dedicated merging lane. Drivers will therefore need to join the main traffic stream after descending from the structure.

The clarification comes as the Red Line project continues to take shape in Karachi, with authorities positioning the BRT corridor as a key addition to the city's public transport network. The statement stressed that the U-turn's layout reflects a balance between international design norms and the practical limits of the available urban space.