Lucknow, India – High-powered electric fans are now being deployed to dry a damaged stretch of the recently inaugurated Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway, following a road slip caused by intense rainfall. The unusual repair method comes as authorities grapple with significant traffic disruption and growing concerns over the quality of the expressway's construction.
Emergency Drying Operations Underway
Visuals from the site depict large industrial fans placed directly on the affected road surface, aiming to extract moisture from the underlying soil. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) explained that continuous downpours allowed water to infiltrate the road's sub-layers, compromising the soil's stability and leading to the road's structural failure.
Traffic Disruption and Commuter Frustration
The damaged section has severely impacted vehicle movement between Kanpur and Lucknow. Traffic in both directions is currently being funneled onto a single carriageway, creating bottlenecks and heightening safety risks as construction machinery operates alongside moving vehicles. Commuters have voiced strong complaints, particularly regarding being charged tolls without prior notification of the extensive disruptions ahead. Many reported being forced to drive on the wrong side of the road after passing toll plazas, increasing the potential for accidents and traffic violations.
Construction Quality Under Scrutiny
This incident has intensified scrutiny over the expressway's construction standards. Reports indicate that the same location had required repairs less than a month prior to this latest event. Furthermore, heavy rains have caused road surface slippage at an additional seven to eight sites along the expressway, amplifying doubts about its overall durability and design.
NHAI Initiates Investigation and Action
In response to the failures, the NHAI has enlisted IIT Kharagpur to conduct a comprehensive technical investigation into the causes of the road damage. A laser profilometer survey of the entire pavement has also been ordered. The construction firm responsible, PNC Infratech, has received a formal notice regarding alleged lapses in their work, with proceedings initiated to potentially declare them a non-performing contractor. PNC Infratech is expected to cover the estimated ₹3 crore repair costs.
Moreover, officials directly responsible for supervising the project have been removed from their positions and barred from participating in NHAI and related ministry projects for two years. Toll collection on the affected stretch remains suspended until repairs are complete, with the resulting revenue loss to be recovered from the concessionaire.