Kanpur–Lucknow Expressway: Big news for vehicle owners. Acknowledging complaints about damaged roads on the expressway connecting Lucknow to Kanpur, the NHAI has decided to halt toll collection until the repairs are completed, making the expressway toll-free for the time being. The NHAI took this step after receiving numerous reports of damaged sections on the 63-kilometer-long expressway shortly after its inauguration on July 13th.

The toll being charged for using the expressway, which was Rs 275 for cars/jeeps/vans, has been suspended until the road is fully repaired. The NHAI stated that travelers will not be charged any toll during this period, and any financial losses incurred will be compensated by the concessionaire.

The NHAI has taken disciplinary action against the contractor, engineers, and officials involved in the project due to alleged deficiencies in completion and monitoring. This action was prompted by reports of a road slippage near the 64th kilometer of the expressway on July 26, leading to immediate repair work and traffic diversion at the affected area.

The contractor, PNC Infratech Ltd., has been issued a notice proposing their disqualification as a “non-performer,” which would prevent them from bidding on future NHAI projects. The company has also been directed to repair the damaged portion at their own expense, estimated to cost around Rs 3 crore.

Furthermore, several individuals involved in the project, including the project manager, engineers, and project directors, have faced consequences such as bans from future projects and show-cause notices for alleged negligence. The NHAI has also engaged experts to investigate the causes of the road slippage and ensure that the highest standards of quality and safety are maintained in the national highway infrastructure.

On July 26, a section of the expressway in the Koraari area of ​​Unnao caved in for approximately 300 meters. Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, leading people to question the quality of the road construction. As a precaution, vehicles were diverted from the affected section, while traffic remained on the rest of the expressway. NHAI stated that repair work on the damaged section has begun immediately, and normal traffic will be restored only after the road is completely safe.