After Just One Rain: Massive Potholes On Rs. 12,000 Crore Delhi Dehradun Expressway [Video]

The video showing this poorly constructed Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has been shared on Instagram by Fashion Intense on their own. In this short video, the person narrates that they were travelling on the newly constructed Delhi-Dehradun Expressway where they encountered massive potholes. He added that while he was at the spot, he had himself seen 4 to 5 cars getting involved in accidents due to these potholes.

We can also note that the man and a few others were standing right in front of these potholes to warn the incoming drivers of these potholes and guide them to drive around them. He also highlights that he saw the alloy wheels of two cars getting completely damaged and bent due to crossing at high speed over these newly emerged potholes.

In the video, the driver also mentions that the Force Traveller which he was driving has also suffered from the same damage. We can see in the clip the rear wheel bent after hitting these potholes. He adds that thankfully no one has suffered any major injuries due to accidents caused by these potholes. Finally, in the video, he shows the change of wheels.

This particular 213 km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, which has the official name of Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 this year. It was then opened for public use on April 15. However, in just less than three months of inauguration, during its first rainy season, the road has developed massive potholes. As for the cost of this Expressway, it is Rs 12,000 crore, which makes this situation even more pathetic.

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has been constructed to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Dehradun, improve freight movement, and reduce fuel consumption. Earlier, it used to take around 5 to 6 hours to reach Dehradun from Delhi. However, with this new expressway, it only takes 2 to 2.5 hours.

This particular expressway has been constructed in four phases. Phase 1 is a 32 km corridor which starts from Akshardham in Delhi, and then Phase 2 is the 118 km Greenfield corridor, which is the longest phase of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. Then, Phase 3 is the 40 km section which includes food courts and refreshment facilities, and lastly, the 12 km wildlife corridor which has been designed to reduce human-animal conflict.

A number of netizens in the video shared online have commented that despite paying a fortune in taxes, this is the type of infrastructure that we get. They stated that after paying income tax, road tax on vehicles, multiple toll taxes, and paying more money for poor-quality ethanol-blended petrol, the citizens are being given these poor-quality roads. What makes the situation even poorer is that the owner has to pay for the damages caused by these roads himself.

Presently, there is no official statement from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which overlooks the construction of roads and highways in the country. Most likely, the ministry will be conducting an official investigation into the matter and will blacklist the company which was ordered to construct the expressway. Currently, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has also not commented on this situation.

The current largest opposition party, the Indian National Congress, has also shared the same video online and has strongly criticized the project. It has stated that there has been massive corruption in infrastructure projects under the Modi government. Additionally, the Congress party has also alleged embezzlement of public money during construction.