Political turmoil regarding Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway before inauguration, NHAI responded to Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations

Knews Desk- Before the inauguration of Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, politics regarding it has intensified. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav claimed that this expressway, built at a cost of about Rs 4,700 crore, has caved in even before its inauguration. At the same time, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has completely rejected these allegations and said that no part of the expressway has sunk and it is completely safe.

According to the government programme, on July 13, Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway from Unnao. After this, it will be opened for the general public from 8 am on July 14.

Akhilesh Yadav made allegations of corruption

Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP government by posting on social media platform X. He said that the purpose of the expressway is to provide fast and safe travel facilities to the people and not to keep people chanting the name of God out of fear during the journey.

The SP chief alleged that the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway, built at a cost of Rs 4,700 crore during the BJP government, broke down even before its inauguration. Referring to another road project in Maharashtra, he accused BJP governments of corruption. Akhilesh Yadav raised the question whether there is corruption competition going on in development projects in BJP ruled states. He said that the public wants to know whether such projects are being made for the convenience of the people or to benefit the contractors. He also said that if quality and safety are compromised in road construction, then people will be forced to think before setting out on even short distance journeys.

BJP called the allegations baseless

BJP has retaliated on Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations. BJP’s Unnao district unit president Anurag Awasthi said that the opposition is doing unnecessary politics regarding development works. He said that those who are upset with the development work happening in the state are trying to maintain their political presence by making such statements. He said that if any minor technical problem related to construction comes up, then the concerned agency is responsible to fix it. The BJP leader said that making such allegations before the inauguration only shows political malice.

NHAI rejected the claims

NHAI Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma also termed the reports of expressway subsidence as wrong. He said that the main road of the expressway is completely safe and there has been no subsidence anywhere. nHe said that the pictures and videos being claimed on social media are not related to the main road of the expressway but to the soil on the side. He called it part of normal maintenance. The NHAI official said there was no impact on road strength and traffic safety. The concerned part has been repaired and all necessary technical checks have been completed before inauguration.

The expressway is 63 kilometers long

The Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway is about 63 kilometers long and will connect the state capital Lucknow with the industrial city Kanpur. The objective of this project is to reduce travel time between the two cities and improve the traffic system.

NHAI says that the expressway has been designed keeping in mind all the quality standards. At the same time, the opposition is continuously raising questions regarding the quality of construction works. Now after the inauguration, only through the use of the general public it will become clear what is the actual condition of the expressway.