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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has ordered an investigation after fresh road surface damage was reported on the Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway within a month of the corridor opening to traffic. Three engineers have been debarred pending the outcome of the inquiry. The affected stretch is located in Unnao district, where damage was detected near Korari village on an approach embankment to a bridge. Traffic has been diverted while repair work is carried out, with the authority expecting restoration within two days. NHAI has also initiated disciplinary action and said it will deploy advanced construction technologies in future projects to strengthen quality control and reduce the likelihood of similar defects.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated an investigation after fresh road surface damage was detected on the Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway in the past week, less than a month after the highway was opened to traffic. The authority has also debarred three engineers pending completion of the inquiry into the incident, which occurred near Korari village in Unnao district on an approach embankment to a bridge.
The expressway had been inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State Nitin Gadkari in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath before being opened for public use the following day.
According to NHAI Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma, the latest technical issue was identified on the bridge approach embankment near Korari in Unnao district rather than on the bridge structure itself. He said the affected location had previously required repair on a 20-metre stretch and that the latest issue necessitated extending repairs to a cumulative 220-metre section.
To facilitate restoration work, traffic has been diverted near Korari toll plaza. Verma said the repair work was expected to be completed within two days, after which normal traffic movement would resume.
He further stated that it would be incorrect to describe the incident as involving five separate cases of road subsidence, maintaining that most of the damage was confined to the same approach structure. The clarification came amid concerns over the condition of the newly opened expressway following reports of recurring surface defects.
Verma said a primary committee had been constituted to examine the matter immediately after the latest defect was detected. As part of the initial disciplinary action, NHAI has debarred two independent engineers and one maintenance engineer associated with the construction agency until the investigation is completed.
The authority will continue its technical assessment to determine the cause of the damage and establish whether any deficiencies in construction, supervision or maintenance contributed to the failure. The findings of the inquiry will form the basis for any further action against those responsible.
Verma also said NHAI intends to strengthen quality assurance measures in future road projects through the use of advanced technologies. These include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Guidance, Connected Automated Machines (CAMX) and drones during construction to improve monitoring, quality control and execution standards. He added that these technologies would support better project oversight and help minimise the risk of similar road defects in future highway developments.
Source - PTI
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