Extensive remedial work under way on newly opened expressway
Lucknow: Significant repair operations have begun on several sections of the Kanpur–Lucknow Expressway barely a month after it opened to traffic, with stretches being cut open and relaid, shoulders rebuilt and drains reworked, officials and an inspection of the corridor showed.
The Uttar Pradesh Home Department has sought a status report from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the defects, according to the original report. Repair activity was particularly concentrated on the carriageway between km 28 and km 35, where machinery, aggregates and bitumen were staged along nearly seven kilometres.
Inspectors found a range of problems, including uneven surfaces, visible cracks, damaged shoulders and signs of settlement near a bridge approach. Drainage concerns were also flagged — at least five locations up to km 37.6 showed drains being broken and reworked to improve water discharge. In some places, crash barriers were reported to be blocking drains, potentially impeding flow.
- Major repair concentration: km 28–35, material and machines present along the carriageway.
- Drainage works: drains reworked up to km 37.6; blocked drains reported at some sites.
- Settlement and structural patching: approach to a bridge near Niverna (Unnao) and patches up to km 47.
The inspection identified a likely settlement near Niverna in Unnao, where the bridge approach showed concrete blocks becoming uneven and shifting. At km 39.5, workers were filling bridge cracks, and at km 39.8 repair work had reduced traffic to a single lane. Several major patches and uneven surfaces were visible further along the alignment, including near Kantha village, where about 200 metres of road had reportedly suffered damage.
| Issue | Location (approx.) | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Road relaying and reconstruction | km 28–35 | Staged materials and machinery; lane restrictions |
| Drainage rework | Up to km 37.6 (five locations) | Drains broken; potential for weakened subgrade if unresolved |
| Bridge approach settlement | Near Niverna (Unnao) | Uneven concrete blocks; localised instability |
| Surface damage | Near Kantha village; up to km 47 | Patch repairs; traffic slowed |
PNC Infratech, which was involved in construction of the corridor, has increased repair activity following complaints. The company's project manager, Satya Narayan, was quoted as saying there was no major problem near Niverna and that some defects were caused by vehicle and construction machinery movement.
“There was no major problem near Niverna,” said PNC manager Satya Narayan, adding that some defects were due to vehicle and construction machinery movement.
NHAI officials told the reporting agency that the matter was under consideration. The Home Department has asked for details including whether the defects have implications for other PNC projects and whether the company has been debarred from future contracts.
Observers and highway experts commonly note that inadequate drainage can weaken the subgrade and precipitate surface failures; the inspection’s finding of blocked or misdirected drains raises that concern for sections where water discharge is impeded. Reduced pavement life and safety risks for high-speed traffic on expressways are typical consequences if drainage and settlement issues are not promptly and effectively addressed.
The Kanpur–Lucknow Expressway is a critical link for the region, intended to reduce travel time and ease movement of people and goods between the state capital and Kanpur. With repair work and lane restrictions already reported at multiple locations, commuters and freight operators can expect disruptions until remedial activity is completed and the Home Department and NHAI resolve outstanding technical and contractual questions.
Authorities have not provided a public timeline for completion of the repair work. The Home Department’s request to NHAI signals a formal review, and any decision on sanctions or debarment of contractors will depend on the findings of that status report and subsequent investigations.
Local users of the expressway are advised to monitor official advisories for lane closures and to plan travel accordingly while remedial works continue.
