Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway cracks: NHAI sacks project director, PNC Infratech served notice
Synopsis
A ₹4,200 crore expressway inaugurated by three senior ministers on 13 July developed cracks within weeks — and NHAI's response has been unusually swift: project director suspended, toll collections halted, and IIT Kharagpur called in to investigate. The concessionaire, PNC Infratech, must now foot the entire repair bill under a 15-year maintenance obligation.
Key Takeaways
NHAI suspended the project director and the leader of the independent engineering team over quality failures on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway .
PNC Infratech , the Agra -based concessionaire, has been served a show-cause notice and must bear the full cost of repairs.
All toll collections on the expressway have been suspended until repair works are completed.
Only approximately 1 km of the 64-km corridor has been affected by water seepage and cracking, according to NHAI.
An independent investigation will be conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur .
The expressway, built at ₹4,200 crore , was inaugurated on 13 July by Rajnath Singh , Nitin Gadkari , and Yogi Adityanath .
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has moved swiftly against construction firm PNC Infratech Limited and its officials after cracks and erosion appeared on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway within weeks of its inauguration, suspending the project director, issuing a show-cause notice to the concessionaire, and halting all toll collections along the 64-km corridor. The action, announced on 6 August, follows widespread complaints from commuters about damaged stretches and carriageway edge failures.
What Went Wrong
A section of approximately 1 km of the expressway suffered water seepage, leading to cracks at multiple locations along the edges of the carriageway. NHAI clarified that the damage is confined to this stretch and does not affect the entire expressway. Diversions were put in place on the affected section to maintain traffic flow while repair work was initiated immediately after the issue surfaced.
Action Taken Against Officials and Concessionaire
The project director has been suspended and debarred from the company's operations. The leader of the independent engineering team has also been suspended. PNC Infratech, the Agra-based concessionaire that built the expressway at a cost of ₹4,200 crore, has been served a show-cause notice and directed to submit an explanation within weeks. NHAI has also suspended all toll collections along the expressway until repairs on the damaged stretches are fully completed.
Who Bears the Cost
NHAI has made clear that no public funds will be used for the remedial works. 'The concessionaire holds full responsibility for maintenance for the next 15 years; no government funds will be spent on this,' the authority stated, citing the terms of the concession agreement. PNC Infratech is bearing the entire cost of the repair works.
Independent Probe by IIT Kharagpur
An independent investigation into the structural failure will be conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur. A senior NHAI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authority is 'neither shying away from its responsibility nor trying to evade accountability' and is taking 'necessary and time-bound steps' to address all shortcomings that have come to light.
Background
The expressway was inaugurated on 13 July by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The fact that structural defects emerged within weeks of a high-profile inauguration has drawn sharp public attention. This is not the first time newly commissioned Indian highways have faced early-onset quality concerns, raising questions about construction oversight and quality assurance protocols on PPP projects.
Point of View
200 crore expressway within weeks of a ministerially inaugurated ribbon-cutting are an embarrassment NHAI could not afford to absorb quietly — hence the unusually rapid punitive response. But suspending officials and issuing show-cause notices are process moves; the structural question is whether quality assurance on PPP highway projects is robust enough at the construction stage to prevent such failures in the first place. IIT Kharagpur's probe will be the real test: if it surfaces systemic lapses rather than isolated contractor negligence, the accountability chain will need to extend well beyond one project director. India's highway build-out is among the fastest in the world, but speed and quality control have historically been in tension on PPP corridors.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway?
The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway developed cracks and erosion along the edges of its carriageway within weeks of its inauguration on 13 July. According to NHAI, approximately 1 km of the 64-km corridor was affected by water seepage, prompting immediate repair work and traffic diversions.
What action has NHAI taken over the expressway cracks?
NHAI suspended the project director and the leader of the independent engineering team, issued a show-cause notice to concessionaire PNC Infratech, and suspended all toll collections on the expressway until repairs are completed. An independent probe by IIT Kharagpur has also been ordered.
Who is responsible for repairing the damaged expressway?
PNC Infratech, the Agra-based construction concessionaire, is bearing the full cost of all remedial works. NHAI has stated that the concessionaire holds maintenance responsibility for 15 years under the concession agreement and that no government funds will be spent on the repairs.
Is the entire Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway affected?
No. NHAI has clarified that only approximately 1 km of the 64-km expressway has been affected by water seepage and cracking. The rest of the corridor remains operational, with diversions in place near the damaged stretch.
Who inaugurated the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway?
The expressway was inaugurated on 13 July by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It was built at a cost of ₹4,200 crore by PNC Infratech Limited.
