New Delhi: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has turned up the heat on the construction agency over a string of gaps and lapses on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway and has taken action against the concessionaire and several officials of the agency, including the project director.
According to NHAI officials, the project director has been suspended and debarred from the company’s operations while the leader of the independent engineering team has also been suspended.
The construction agency has also been issued a show-cause notice and asked to submit an explanation, explaining the reasons behind the cracks emerging on the highway, within weeks of opening.
The crackdown on the concessionaire comes on the back of inconveniences faced by the commuters as a stretch on the highway suffered erosion and developed cracks at multiple locations across the edges of the carriageway. The repair work was initiated soon after reports emerged, while diversions were put in place on the 63-km carriageway to ensure smooth traffic.
The NHAI took cognisance of the gaps and slippages flagged by commuters on the expressway and cracked the whip on the concessionaire.
According to NHAI, the construction agency is bearing the entire cost of remedial works itself.
“The concessionaire holds full responsibility for maintenance for the next 15 years; no government funds will be spent on this,” it said while outlining the terms of agreement.
The fresh round of penal action against PNC Infratech comes on the back of the NHAI suspending all toll collections along the entire expressway, till the repair works on damaged stretches are completed.
The highway authority also sought to clear the air on the damaged road, stating that only a section of about 1 km (out of a 64 km stretch) has been affected by water seepage and the entire expressway is not affected.
An independent investigation will also be conducted by a team from IIT Kharagpur into the matter, it informed.
A NHAI official, speaking on condition of anonymity, underlined that the highway authority is neither shying away from its responsibility nor trying to evade accountability.
He said that the NHAI, in accordance with the government guidelines, is taking necessary and time-bound steps to address all the shortcomings that have come to light.
Notably, the expressway, built at a cost of Rs 4,200 crore, was constructed by Agra-based PNC Infratech Limited. It was inaugurated on July 13 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
(IANS)
