Kanpur‑Lucknow Expressway collapse response

In late July 2026 a 300‑metre section of the Kanpur‑Lucknow Expressway collapsed near kilometre 64. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) responded by issuing show‑cause notices to the concessionaire PNC InfraTech Ltd and other contractors, labeling them non‑performers and barring several officials from future road projects. The authority also ordered the contractor to rebuild the damaged stretch at its own cost, estimated at about ₹3 crore.

Within weeks of the incident, repair work became a political flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh. Video of workers using large fans to dry the pavement after rain circulated on social media, prompting Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav to criticize the state government for shoddy construction and question the safety of the newly opened route. The government maintained that repairs were ongoing and under review.

Further NHAI action detailed penalties of 2 % of the performance security, a possible three‑year de‑barment of senior technical staff, and a downgrade of the concessionaire’s Pavement Condition Index. Toll collection was suspended until repairs were completed, and the contractor was again ordered to bear repair costs of roughly ₹3 crore. PNC InfraTech asserted it had not been de‑barred, that the damage affected less than 0.5 % of the 63‑km route, and that most of the affected stretch had already been repaired, allowing traffic to flow smoothly. Despite the controversy, the firm secured new highway contracts worth ₹3,483 crore for two NH‑927 packages in the same state, underscoring the ongoing tension between project delivery pressures and regulatory oversight.