1st-ever toll suspension after expressway defects

The Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway, also known as the Awadh Expressway, faced significant issues shortly after its inauguration due to major structural defects. These defects included premature failures and slippages, which emerged within weeks of the road's opening. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) subsequently banned the project's concessionaire, PNC Infratech, from bidding on any projects for three years, representing the maximum penalty allowed under the contract. This decision led to a 20% drop in PNC Infratech's shares.

Inspections revealed the defects were primarily due to design-related issues and poor-quality soil beneath parts of the expressway. The soil, described as weak and highly plastic, can undergo significant changes in shape and behavior when its moisture content changes. NHAI commissioned an investigation by a professor from IIT Kharagpur, which concluded that the affected sections needed to be completely reconstructed.

In addition to the structural issues, toll collection across the entire expressway was suspended. PNC Infratech is responsible for compensating NHAI for the lost toll revenue, estimated at Rs 42 lakhs per day until the expressway is fully operational. The expressway was developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model, under which PNC Infratech is responsible for maintaining the road during the concession period.

NHAI's decision to ban PNC Infratech follows similar actions by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who vowed to take strict action against contractors and officials responsible for delays and poor-quality roadwork. Gadkari, after inaugurating a six-lane elevated road corridor, expressed his desire to set a record for blacklisting contractors and taking action against officials within a year, while also proposing improvements along the Mumbai-Goa Highway, such as roadside facilities showcasing local architecture, cuisine, and handicrafts, as well as facilities for alternative fuels.