LUCKNOW, Oct. 15 -- 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.

Inaugurated on July 13, the expressway was expected to reduce travel time between Lucknow and Kanpur from around 90 minutes to 35-40 minutes. However, complaints about damaged road surfaces and repair work within weeks of its opening raised questions about construction quality.

A road...