Lucknow: A section of the newly inaugurated Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway has developed cracks and signs of road damage just 12 days after it was opened to the public, raising fresh questions about the quality of construction on one of Uttar Pradesh’s biggest infrastructure projects.
The damage reportedly appeared after heavy monsoon showers, with videos from the site showing cracked stretches of the carriageway and portions where the road surface appeared to have sunk. The clips quickly spread across social media, prompting criticism and demands for accountability over how a newly built expressway could show visible signs of wear within days of its inauguration.
The rs 4,200 crore expressway was inaugurated on July 13 by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The project was launched with the promise of reducing travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur while improving connectivity and easing congestion on the existing highway.
Following reports of the damage, officials said repair work began immediately. According to the authorities, traffic on the expressway has not been disrupted, and the affected portions are being restored while engineers inspect the site to determine what caused the cracks.
Officials have linked the damage to intense monsoon rainfall, but the explanation has done little to silence concerns. The incident has fuelled debate over whether construction standards and quality checks were adequate before the expressway was opened to the public.
Experts point out that while heavy rain can affect road surfaces, a newly commissioned expressway is generally expected to withstand seasonal weather without developing visible cracks or subsidence in such a short span. A detailed technical assessment is expected to determine whether the damage is limited to the surface layer or points to deeper structural issues.
The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway is considered a key infrastructure project for Uttar Pradesh. It is expected to improve connectivity between the state’s two major cities, support industrial growth, strengthen logistics and make daily travel faster for thousands of commuters.
The incident has also renewed calls for stricter quality audits and stronger oversight of large public infrastructure projects. Opposition leaders have questioned the durability of the expressway, while many commuters have expressed concern over its safety and long term reliability.
For now, authorities maintain that the expressway remains safe for traffic and that repairs are being carried out on priority. The findings of the ongoing technical inspection are expected to provide a clearer picture of whether the damage was caused solely by heavy rainfall or whether construction related issues also played a role.
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