📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Angrag1985
National
Cracks and a crater mar Uttar Pradesh's Rs 36,000‑crore Ganga Expressway
✍️ India Today
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 12:17 PM
👁 56
Recent inspections have revealed a new crater and multiple cracks on the Ganga Expressway, raising concerns over the quality of the Rs 36,000‑crore project in Uttar Pradesh.
A fresh crater and a series of surface cracks have been reported on the Ganga Expressway, a flagship road project worth Rs 36,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh. The damage was first noticed during routine monitoring by the state’s Public Works Department, which immediately ordered a detailed structural assessment. Engineers say the anomalies could be linked to soil settlement and inadequate compaction during the construction phase.
The expressway, intended to cut travel time between major cities in the state, has already faced criticism for delays and cost overruns. The latest findings add to growing pressure on the Uttar Pradesh government and the contractors to ensure safety standards are met before the road is opened to traffic.
Authorities have halted work in the affected stretch pending a comprehensive investigation. The Public Works Department has also instructed contractors to submit remedial action plans within a week, emphasizing that any further deterioration will trigger penalties as per the project agreement.
The expressway, intended to cut travel time between major cities in the state, has already faced criticism for delays and cost overruns. The latest findings add to growing pressure on the Uttar Pradesh government and the contractors to ensure safety standards are met before the road is opened to traffic.
Authorities have halted work in the affected stretch pending a comprehensive investigation. The Public Works Department has also instructed contractors to submit remedial action plans within a week, emphasizing that any further deterioration will trigger penalties as per the project agreement.