Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Row: Akhilesh Questions Safety, NHAI Calls Claims Baseless

A political controversy has erupted ahead of the inauguration of the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway , with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleging that portions of the Rs 4,700-crore project caved in even before it was opened to traffic. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strongly denied the charge, insisting the expressway is structurally sound and built to prescribed quality standards.

The expressway is inaugurated on Monday by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari , and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during a ceremony in Unnao.

In a post on X, Yadav questioned the quality of construction and alleged corruption in major infrastructure projects under BJP governments. He claimed the expressway had suffered damage before its launch and compared it with Maharashtra's Rs 6,700-crore Missing Link project , alleging both reflected large-scale corruption. He also questioned whether the highway had been designed for commuters or to benefit contractors.

Yadav further argued that if commuters spend more time entering Lucknow than travelling between the two cities, the project's promise of faster connectivity would be defeated. He said speed is meaningful only when accompanied by safety and reliability .

Responding to the allegations, NHAI Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma categorically denied that the expressway had caved in. He clarified that photographs circulating online showed erosion of roadside earthen embankments , commonly known as "rain cuts," caused by heavy rainfall rather than any damage to the main carriageway.

According to Verma, such erosion is a routine maintenance issue and has no impact on the structural integrity or safety of the expressway. He said the affected sections had already been repaired and all remaining technical work would be completed before public traffic begins.

The BJP also dismissed Yadav's allegations as politically motivated. Party leaders accused the opposition of spreading misinformation to target development projects ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections , maintaining that any minor construction issues would be promptly addressed by the executing agency.