Construction work on the K-IV water supply augmentation project along Karachi’s busy University Road has resumed after objections raised by the World Bank were addressed, officials said on Saturday.

The project had been temporarily suspended following concerns over environmental safeguards, safety arrangements and route alignment. The Karachi mayor had directed the Water and Sewerage Corporation to resolve the issues to allow work to restart.

The K-IV augmentation work on University Road was halted after a World Bank team, during a site visit on November 9, flagged poor safety measures and the absence of technical experts overseeing construction. Environmental experts appointed at the start of the project had also left soon after work began, according to sources.

The project, which targets laying large-diameter water pipelines from Urdu University to Hasan Square, covers a 2.7-kilometre stretch.

Under the original plan, 96-inch and 72-inch pipelines were to be installed on multiple tracks.

However, following design changes and route adjustments, authorities have decided to lay the pipelines on a single track.

Sources said only about 10 per cent of construction work had been completed before the suspension, with roughly 300 metres of the 96-inch pipeline laid, while work on the 72-inch line had not started.

The augmentation work had been scheduled to begin on November 10, with a completion deadline set for December 30 by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

The suspension of work had added to commuters’ difficulties on University Road, which was already under strain due to ongoing work on the Red Line bus project. Limited road space, traffic congestion and water flowing across the carriageway had made daily travel challenging.

Officials said that after addressing the World Bank’s objections related to environmental management, safety protocols and supervision, construction activities have now been restored. Authorities maintained that the revised design and improved safety measures would help minimise disruption while ensuring steady progress on the critical water supply project.