India, Aug. 27 -- Fresh cracks have appeared on a repaired section of Uttar Pradesh's Ganga Expressway near Unnao, just days after a 10-metre-deep crater opened on another stretch of the 36,230-crore highway following heavy rain. The latest damage was reported on a section near Unnao where soil settlement and erosion had earlier been observed. The affected stretch was subsequently repaired, with the National Highways Authority of India carrying out patchwork. The appearance of cracks on the repaired portion has raised fresh questions about the durability of the expressway, particularly its ability to withstand heavy rainfall. Also Read - Share delimitation plans, freeze current LS strength for next 25 years: Kharge to PM Advertisement On August 18, a large crater opened near kilometre 421 on the Meerut-Prayagraj carriageway after heavy rain. A portion of the road and adjoining embankment was reportedly washed away. The 594-km, six-lane, access-controlled expressway was inaugurated on April 29. It connects Meerut with Prayagraj and passes through 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The project was developed to reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from around 12 hours to about six hours. The expressway has faced reports of damage at multiple locations since its inauguration. In July, a seven-metre approach road connecting the expressway to the Sonic toll plaza in Unnao was damaged following heavy rain. Soil erosion was reported along the embankment and part of the carriageway collapsed, following which repair and patchwork were carried out. The August 18 crater further brought attention to the construction and drainage arrangements of the expressway, particularly in areas vulnerable to heavy rainfall. The latest cracks have also triggered a political response, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticising the condition of the expressway and alleging corruption in the project.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.