The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended toll collection on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway after the road suffered significant damage [1].
The failure of the infrastructure occurs just weeks after the project's inauguration, raising serious questions about construction quality and the oversight of high-value government contracts in Uttar Pradesh.
The 63-km expressway [3] opened July 13, 2026 [5] with the goal of reducing travel time between the two cities to 35 minutes [4]. However, the pavement began to crumble shortly after the opening, leading to the current "zero toll" status [1].
Investigations into the deterioration point to poor construction quality and inadequate pavement [2]. The project carried a total cost of ₹4,200 crore [1]. In response to the failures, NHAI has initiated disciplinary action, which included firing officials and debarring the contractor [1].
The concessionaire for the project, PNC Infratech, is facing these penalties at a time of significant expansion. The builder had recently signed additional highway contracts valued at ₹3,483 crore [1].
NHAI officials said the suspension of tolls will remain in place while the damaged sections are addressed. The agency is now reviewing the technical failures that allowed a multi-billion rupee project to degrade within a few weeks of public use [2].
“NHAI has suspended toll collection on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway after the road suffered significant damage.”
This incident highlights a critical gap between the rapid expansion of India's highway infrastructure and the quality control mechanisms governing private contractors. The fact that PNC Infratech secured ₹3,483 crore in new contracts despite the immediate failure of a ₹4,200 crore project suggests a need for more rigorous auditing of concessionaires before new tenders are awarded.
