Electric fans have been deployed on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway to dry the waterlogged roadbed after a section of the highway developed a major slip following heavy rainfall. Repair work is underway, while traffic has been diverted to a single carriageway.
Videos from the site show high-powered fans positioned along the damaged stretch to remove moisture from the soil beneath the pavement before reconstruction begins.
According to officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), continuous rainfall allowed water to seep into the layers below the road surface, weakening the soil and leading to the road slip.
The damaged section has disrupted traffic, with vehicles travelling between Kanpur and Lucknow in both directions being diverted through a single carriageway while repairs continue.
The temporary arrangement has raised safety concerns, as construction work is being carried out alongside moving traffic.
Several motorists have also complained that they were forced to drive on the wrong side of the expressway after entering through toll plazas.
Some commuters alleged they were charged toll without being informed about the disruption, saying they would have taken an alternate route had they known in advance. They also claimed the diversion increased the risk of accidents and left drivers concerned about potential traffic violations.
The incident has renewed questions over the quality of construction. The same stretch had undergone repairs less than a month ago, and after the latest spell of rain, similar road surface slippage has reportedly been observed at seven to eight other locations along the expressway.
NHAI has assigned IIT Kharagpur to conduct a technical investigation into the cause of the failure. The authority has also ordered a laser profilometer survey of the entire pavement.
Construction company PNC Infratech has been served a notice over alleged lapses, and proceedings have been initiated to classify it as a non-performing contractor. The firm will bear the estimated repair cost of Rs 3 crore.
Officials responsible for supervising the project have also been removed and barred from participating in NHAI and related ministry projects for the next two years.
Toll collection on the affected stretch will remain suspended until the repair work is completed, with the resulting revenue loss to be recovered from the concessionaire.
