Toll collection on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway will remain suspended until the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is satisfied that the road meets prescribed quality standards, officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Nearly three months after potholes and damaged stretches raised concerns over construction quality, the authority is insisting on a comprehensive assessment before allowing toll collection to resume.
A strength audit and a laser profilometer-based pavement assessment are also planned to identify deficiencies and determine the road’s condition.
NHAI officials said toll collection was unlikely to resume for at least another week, subject to inspection findings and the authority’s assessment.
NHAI is also charging the company ₹ 42 lakh per day against toll revenue losses during the suspension. An expert team led by professor K S Reddy of IIT Kharagpur was engaged to investigate the causes of the damage and recommend corrective measures. The concessionaire, PNC Infratech, has been directed to carry out repairs at its own cost.
NHAI project manager Navratna said motorists could continue using the expressway without paying toll while repairs and quality assessments were underway.
