New Delhi, 05 August (H.S.): The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has initiated action against the construction company, independent engineer and concerned officials following the road sinking incident on the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway. NHAI has started the process of declaring construction firm PNC Infratech Limited as a “non-performing” entity. Toll collection on the expressway has also been suspended temporarily.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Wednesday that a road subsidence (slippage) incident occurred on the 63-kilometre-long expressway on July 26 near kilometre point 64, affecting a stretch of around 300 metres. Following the incident, NHAI immediately initiated repair work and ordered a comprehensive technical investigation of the affected section.

NHAI has issued a show-cause notice to PNC Infratech Limited and proposed imposing a penalty equivalent to two per cent of the performance security amount, a three-year debarment of responsible officials and a downgrade in the company’s rating. The company has also been directed to repair the damaged section at its own cost, estimated at around Rs 3 crore. NHAI will not bear any additional financial burden for the repair work.

The authority has removed PNC Infratech’s Project Manager Vivek Kumar Gupta, independent engineer team leader Surendra Kumar and Resident Engineer Yatendra Kumar from the project for alleged negligence. They have also been barred for two years from participating in projects under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Additionally, the current Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma has been repatriated to his parent department. Charge sheets are also being issued against former Project Director Saurabh Chaurasia and current Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma over alleged negligence.

NHAI has also begun the process of debarring the project’s independent engineer, M/s Theme Engineering Services Private Limited, from future projects.

The authority has decided to conduct an assessment of the entire expressway using laser profilometer technology to evaluate the condition of the road surface. A team of experts led by Professor K.S. Reddy of IIT Kharagpur has been assigned the technical investigation, which will identify the reasons behind the incident and suggest corrective measures.

NHAI stated that no toll will be collected from any vehicle on the expressway until the affected portion is completely repaired. The revenue loss caused due to the suspension of toll collection will also be recovered from the construction company.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar