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, even as repair work continues and traffic remains diverted through a single carriageway.
Visuals from the site show high-powered fans placed along the damaged stretch to remove moisture from the underlying soil before reconstruction can begin.
According to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, continuous rainfall allowed water to seep into the layers beneath the pavement, weakening the soil and causing the road to slip.
The damaged stretch has disrupted traffic, with vehicles travelling between Kanpur and Lucknow in both directions being routed through a single carriageway while repair work is underway.
The arrangement has raised safety concerns among commuters as construction machinery continues to operate alongside moving traffic.
Motorists have also complained of being forced to drive on the wrong side of the expressway after entering through toll plazas.
Several passengers alleged they were charged toll without being informed about the disruption ahead, saying they would have chosen an alternative route had they known. The diversion has increased the risk of accidents and left drivers worried about possible traffic violations.
The incident has also raised fresh questions over the quality of construction. The same location required repairs less than a month ago, and following the latest spell of rain, road surface slippage has been reported at seven to eight other locations on the expressway.
NHAI said IIT Kharagpur has been tasked with conducting a technical investigation into the cause of the failure. The authority has also ordered a laser profilometer survey of the entire pavement.
Construction firm PNC Infratech has been issued a notice over alleged lapses, with proceedings initiated to declare it a non-performing contractor. The company will bear the estimated Rs 3 crore repair cost.
Officials responsible for project supervision have also been removed and barred from participating in NHAI and related ministry projects for two years.
Toll collection on the affected stretch will remain suspended until repairs are completed, with the resulting revenue loss to be recovered from the concessionaire.
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