Akhilesh Yadav Alleges Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway Sinking Before Inauguration, NHAI Refutes Claims

A major political controversy has erupted in Uttar Pradesh just hours before the scheduled inauguration of the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway. Samajwadi Party (SP) National President and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has leveled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government, claiming that the expressway, constructed at a cost of 4700 crore rupees, has started sinking before its official opening. The project, which is a significant infrastructure development for the state, was slated for a high-profile inauguration ceremony on July 13 at 3:00 PM in Unnao, featuring Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Akhilesh Yadav's Sharp Attack on Social Media

Taking to the social media platform X, Akhilesh Yadav took a sarcastic swipe at the BJP government. He stated that expressways are built so that people can travel quickly and without worry, rather than spending the entire journey chanting God's name out of fear. The SP chief highlighted that the 4700 crore rupee Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway has reportedly sunk before its inauguration. He further drew a parallel with Maharashtra, alleging that a missing link project built at a cost of 6700 crore rupees under a BJP government there has also fallen into disrepair. Yadav termed these projects as a "connecting link" between the BJP government and corrupt individuals, claiming they've gained notoriety worldwide for such failures.

Allegations of Corruption and Design Flaws

Akhilesh Yadav questioned whether there is a competition for "mega-corruption" in BJP-ruled states. He raised concerns about the design of these projects, asking if the designs for both the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway and the Maharashtra project were prepared by the same team in Lucknow. He further claimed that the time taken to enter the city from the expressway would exceed the actual travel time between the two cities. Yadav questioned whether the project was truly intended for public convenience or merely to provide profits to contractors associated with the BJP. He warned that if corruption continues to plague such projects, a traveler would think 40 times before embarking on a 40 minute journey, emphasizing that speed has no meaning if it isn't safe.

BJP and NHAI Dismiss Allegations as Baseless

In response to these allegations, Anurag Awasthi, the President of the BJP's Unnao district unit, termed Akhilesh Yadav's statements as baseless and politically motivated. He argued that the opposition is making unnecessary remarks because they're frustrated and unable to digest the development work being done. Awasthi suggested that such statements are being made to maintain visibility before the 2027 assembly elections. He added that if there is any minor technical issue related to construction, the concerned agency would resolve it, and making such allegations just before the inauguration is driven by malice.

NHAI Clarifies Technical Status of the Expressway

Nakul Prakash Verma, the Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), also rejected the claims of the expressway sinking. He clarified that no part of the main expressway has sunk. He explained that the images being circulated on social media don't show the main carriageway but rather the soil on the roadside, which is a matter of routine maintenance. Verma stated that this doesn't affect the structural strength or traffic safety of the expressway. He announced that the expressway would be opened to the general public from 8:00 AM on July 14, after which the truth would be evident to everyone. He maintained that the project is completely safe and has been completed according to all quality standards.