Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway: NHAI Declares Naveen Jain’s Brother’s Firm PNC Infratech Non-Performer, Toll Suspended
NHAI has initiated proceedings to declare BJP MP Naveen Jain's brother's firm PNC Infratech a non-performing contractor after pavement failures on the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway. The authority imposed penalties, suspended toll collection, chargesheeted officials and ordered an IIT Kharagpur probe. Preliminary findings point to moisture infiltration, while repairs continue across multiple stretches.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initiated proceedings to declare PNC Infratech a non-performing contractor after identifying serious construction quality issues on the newly inaugurated Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway. The authority has imposed a financial penalty on the company, downgraded its performance rating and directed it to restore all damaged sections of the 63-km access-controlled corridor at its own cost. Toll collection on the expressway will remain suspended until repairs are completed.
The action follows reports of pavement distress and subsidence at multiple locations along the expressway, which was inaugurated on July 13. According to NHAI, six locations have so far been officially identified with pavement slippage or settlement, while a ground report by Dainik Bhaskar said repair work has been carried out at 84 locations across both carriageways. Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Repairs: Akhilesh Yadav Mocks Use of Pedestal Fans To Dry Road After Video Goes Viral.
NHAI Declares Naveen Jain’s Brother’s Firm PNC Infratech Non-Performer
यूपी : कानपुर–लखनऊ एक्सप्रेस वे उदघाटन के तुरंत बाद कई बार टूटने पर NHAI का एक्शन !!
> निर्माण करने वाली कंपनी PNC को नॉन परफार्मर घोषित किया गया।
> 2% जुर्माना लगाया।
> PNC खुद टूटे हाइवे की मरम्मत करेगी
> काम पूरा होने तक टोल नहीं वसूला जाएगा
> PNC के प्रोजेक्ट मैनेजर, टीम…
— Sachin Gupta (@Sachingupta) August 5, 2026
NHAI Expands Action Against Contractor and Officials
NHAI Regional Officer (West UP) Gautam Vishal said disciplinary action will extend beyond officials already penalised. Earlier, the project manager of PNC Infratech and two private consultants responsible for quality control and design standards were debarred. The authority is now examining action against additional company personnel associated with pavement construction and project design, who could also face debarment from future NHAI projects.
NHAI has also taken action against its own officers. Chargesheets have been issued to Nakul Verma, Director of the Lucknow Project Implementation Unit (PIU), and former PIU Director Saurabh Chaurasia over alleged lapses in project monitoring and implementation. Both officers are being repatriated to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Uttar Pradesh: Viral Video Shows Substandard Mid-Day Meal Being Served to Sitapur Govt School Students.
Additionally, Theme Engineering Services Pvt Ltd, the independent engineering consultant responsible for monitoring project execution, has been debarred.
Toll Collection to Remain Suspended
In relief for commuters, NHAI said toll collection will remain suspended until all damaged stretches are repaired, regardless of whether motorists travel between Lucknow and Unnao or vice versa. The authority stated that PNC Infratech will bear all financial losses until toll operations resume.
Preliminary Investigation Points to Moisture Infiltration
According to Gautam Vishal, preliminary investigations found that the materials used in the upper pavement layers met quality requirements.
However, initial findings suggest that monsoon moisture penetrated through the surface layer into the binder and base layers to a depth of up to 1.5 metres. NHAI said laser profilometer technology will now be deployed to assess pavement conditions across the entire corridor.
To determine the exact cause of the failures, NHAI has constituted an expert committee headed by IIT Kharagpur Professor K.S. Reddy. The committee will examine the reasons behind the pavement distress and recommend long-term corrective measures.
Delayed Opening and Drainage Under Examination
Officials are also examining whether the nearly one-year delay between project completion and commissioning contributed to the problem.
According to an NHAI official: "The road was ready for traffic in June 2025. Had it been opened soon after completion, regular vehicle movement could have improved the ductility and waterproofing characteristics of the bituminous surface before the monsoon."
The official added that because the carriageway remained unused for almost a year before its inauguration during the monsoon, ageing and oxidation may have made the pavement brittle, allowing moisture to penetrate deeper layers.
Investigators are also examining whether deficiencies in the drainage design prevented effective discharge of water, worsening the damage.
Officials indicated that a permanent solution could require reconstruction of the entire 525-mm pavement package, comprising the surface, binder and base layers, a process that could cost hundreds of crores of rupees.
Ground Report Finds Widespread Repairs
A ground inspection by Dainik Bhaskar reported that patchwork has been carried out at 39 locations on the Kanpur-bound carriageway and 45 locations on the Lucknow-bound carriageway, bringing the reported total to 84 repair sites.
The report stated that the Lucknow-to-Unnao carriageway had to be closed again near Israel Kheda after a pothole reportedly reappeared following recent rainfall.
In the Bani area, around 30 km from Lucknow, approximately 100 metres of roadway was rebuilt, while another section roughly 400 metres ahead was resurfaced with asphalt and gravel.
The report also said that on July 30, a gravel-laden truck allegedly became stuck after a section of road subsided. After repairs covering around 1,000 square feet, fresh cracks reportedly appeared within 12 hours.
At the 60.1-km mark, Dainik Bhaskar reported observing a one-foot-deep depression across nearly 10 metres, along with cracks measuring two to three inches wide. The report stated that passing heavy vehicles caused noticeable movement in the road surface. The publication further reported experiencing repeated bouncing while driving on the expressway, despite the notified speed limit of 100 kmph.
Engineer Raises Concerns
Abhishek Gaur, an engineer from a private company in Lucknow who has worked on major infrastructure projects, told Dainik Bhaskar: "Every day the expressway is sinking somewhere, which means negligence was exercised in its construction. Now, to fix it, the existing layer of stone-soil mixture and coarse stone will have to be removed and rebuilt."
Previous CBI Case Against Contractor
According to the Dainik Bhaskar report, PNC Infratech was awarded the expressway contract on February 23, 2022.
The report further stated that in October 2024, the company and two subsidiary firms, PNC Khajuraho Highways and PNC Bundelkhand Highways, were barred from participating in new tenders in connection with a CBI case alleging attempts to bribe NHAI officials. The reported restrictions were later lifted approximately a year later. The publication also noted that the company is owned by Pradeep Jain, brother of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naveen Jain.
NHAI has maintained that the expressway remains structurally safe for commuters despite the pavement failures. Traffic diversions are expected to remain in place until investigations and repair work are completed.
The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, built at an estimated cost of around INR 4,200 crore, carries approximately 17,000 to 18,000 passenger car units daily. Investigators are continuing to examine the causes of the pavement distress while the IIT Kharagpur-led expert committee prepares its findings.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2026 11:49 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
