0 months ago
No toll till repairs: NHAI acts on damaged Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway
A brand-new road called the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway was opened to traffic in the middle of July.
Just a few weeks later, people noticed that parts of the road were broken or patched up.
Videos of the damage were shared online, and many drivers were unhappy.
Part of the road near a place called Km 64 slipped, covering a stretch of about 300 metres.
The people in charge, called NHAI, decided that drivers should not have to pay a toll until the road is completely fixed.
NHAI said the company that built the road, PNC Infratech, must pay for the repairs, which will cost about Rs 3 crore.
The company could also be banned from building other highways in the future.
Some engineers and project officials were removed from their jobs for two years.
A team of experts from IIT Kharagpur will investigate what caused the damage.
Until the repairs are finished, traffic is being moved around the broken spot and no toll is charged.
NHAI suspended toll collection on the 63-km Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway until complete rectification, with lost toll revenue to be recovered from concessionaire PNC Infratech Ltd.
A slippage spanning approximately 300 metres was reported near Km 64 on July 26, weeks after the expressway was inaugurated on July 13.
Commuters flagged damaged portions and patchwork on the Unnao-Lucknow carriageway, and social media videos, including one shared by Samajwadi Party leader Madhusudan Yadav, raised concerns about construction quality.
NHAI proposed declaring PNC Infratech a non-performer, with a penalty of 2% of its performance security, debarment of up to three years for responsible staff and complete repairs at the firm's own cost (about Rs 3 crore).
Three officials were removed and debarred for two years from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI and NHIDCL projects, while an IIT Kharagpur team led by Professor K S Reddy will investigate the cause.
- Who
- NHAI (National Highways Authority of India), concessionaire PNC Infratech Ltd, independent engineer Theme Engineering Services Private Limited, and officials including Vivek Kumar Gupta, Surendra Kumar, Yatendra Kumar, Nakul Prakash Verma and Saurabh Chaurasia.
- What
- Toll collection was suspended on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway until repairs are completed, and NHAI proposed penalties and disciplinary action against the concessionaire, the independent engineer and project officials.
- Where
- Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway, near Km 64 on the right-hand carriageway, close to Korari village in Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- On Wednesday, weeks after the expressway's inauguration on July 13, following a slippage reported near Km 64 on July 26.
- Why
- Commuters flagged damaged portions and patchwork, and social media videos raised concerns about construction quality after the slippage was detected on the newly opened expressway.
Key facts
- Expressway length
- 63 km
- Project cost
- Rs 4,200 crore
- Inauguration date
- July 13
- Slippage reported
- Near Km 64, right-hand carriageway, on July 26
- Affected stretch
- Approximately 300 metres, near Korari village, Unnao
- One-way toll (cars/jeeps/vans)
- Rs 275
- Estimated repair cost
- About Rs 3 crore, borne by PNC Infratech
- Proposed penalty on concessionaire
- 2% of performance security; up to 3 years' debarment for responsible staff
Quotes
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) spokesperson
Official representing the Indian government agency overseeing national highways
“"Till complete rectification, toll has been suspended. No toll will be charged from commuters on this expressway. Recovery of the toll loss will be done from the concessionaire."”
thehansindia.com
businesstoday.in
“"The concessionaire PNC Infratech Ltd has been issued a show-cause notice proposing a penalty equal to 2% of the company's performance security."”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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