Kanpur–Lucknow Elevated Expressway Cracks After Heavy Rain, Officials Call It Surface Slip
The 63‑kilometre, six‑lane Kanpur‑Lucknow Elevated Expressway, built at an estimated cost of about ₹4,700 crore, was inaugurated on 13 July 2026. The ceremony was attended by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Heavy rainfall in Unnao district near the Korari village caused a section of the newly opened road to develop cracks and a depression about 40 metres long. A video of the damaged stretch was posted on social media by a Samajwadi Party worker, prompting political criticism and allegations of poor construction standards.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) clarified that the incident was not a full cave‑in; only the upper wearing coat of the road slipped. Repairs were completed within hours, before 5 pm on the same day, and traffic resumed normally. No injuries or casualties were reported. The expressway is intended to cut travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur from two‑to‑three hours to 35‑40 minutes.
Entities: Kanpur–Lucknow Elevated Expressway · National Highways Authority of India · Nitin Gadkari · Rajnath Singh · Yogi Adityanath
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the inauguration. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Kanpur–Lucknow Elevated Expressway, 63 km long and six lanes, was inaugurated on 13 July 2026. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] A video of the damaged section was first shared on social media by a Samajwadi Party worker and reposted by the party’s media cell. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Heavy rain in Unnao district near Korari village caused a 40‑metre surface slip on the expressway within 13 days of opening. (multiple articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] No casualties or injuries were reported from the expressway incident. (article reporting traffic impact)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The National Highways Authority of India said the incident was not a full cave‑in but only the upper wearing coat slipped, and repairs were completed within hours before 5 pm. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The expressway is intended to reduce travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur from two‑to‑three hours to 35‑40 minutes. (multiple articles)