New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cracked down on the construction agency responsible for the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway following a series of gaps and lapses that emerged soon after the highway opened. The project director has been suspended and debarred from the company’s operations, while the head of the independent engineering team has also been suspended.

The construction agency has been served a show-cause notice and asked to explain the reasons behind cracks that appeared on the highway within weeks of its opening. The action follows inconvenience faced by commuters after a stretch of the expressway suffered erosion and developed cracks at multiple locations along the edges of the carriageway. Repair work was initiated soon after the reports emerged, while diversions were introduced on the 63-km carriageway to facilitate smooth traffic movement.

The NHAI said it took cognisance of the gaps and slippages flagged by commuters and subsequently acted against the concessionaire. According to the highway authority, the construction agency will bear the entire cost of the remedial work. “The concessionaire holds full responsibility for maintenance for the next 15 years; no government funds will be spent on this,” the NHAI said, outlining the terms of the agreement.

The latest penal action against PNC Infratech comes after the NHAI suspended toll collection along the entire expressway until repairs to the damaged stretches are completed. The authority has also sought to clarify the extent of the damage, stating that only about 1 km of the approximately 64-km stretch has been affected by water seepage and that the entire expressway is not affected.

An independent investigation will also be conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur. A senior NHAI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authority was neither shying away from its responsibility nor attempting to evade accountability. The official said the NHAI was taking necessary and time-bound measures, in accordance with government guidelines, to address all shortcomings that had come to light.

Built at a cost of Rs 4,200 crore, the expressway was constructed by Agra-based PNC Infratech Limited. It was inaugurated on July 13 by Defence Minister Mr Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Mr Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Yogi Adityanath.