Lucknow: The ongoing assessment of the Lucknow-Kanpur expressway is expected to hinge on two aspects as the inquiries reach the concluding phase. Drainage design and discharge velocity, as well as overall quality of sand compaction and consolidation, are two crucial aspects that have to be evaluated carefully by the team of experts who are being led by IIT Kharagpur’s Prof KS Reddy. The team is expected to come up with their findings in a fortnight, post which National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would decide the further course of action.Sources revealed that the material used to prepare the base course and the surface course of the 63-km-long access-controlled high-speed corridor has yielded satisfactory results.“We have got reports from independent laboratories. The material that has been used to prepare the surface of the carriageway has been used as per the recommended mandate. Problem has been detected with discharge of water from the expressway’s surface. Moisture has seeped inside the soil from the paved shoulder leading to settlement and slippage. Because of inefficient drainage and lack of timely discharge, excess water collected in the granular material used to prepare the paved shoulder got mixed with the soil beneath the surface. Infiltration of moisture has been detected up to a depth of 1 mt at 10 locations,” said an officer who accompanied the team of independent experts who inspected the site last week.The team also realised during inspection that instead of flowing towards the chute drain or chambers, the water accumulated in the side drain (saucer drain) during the monsoon moved inwards in the soil towards the carriageway. In the absence of consolidation of the compacted soil, the road pavement started settling (sinking of the road surface that results in bumps for motorists).NHAI UP (west) regional officer Gautam Vishal said, “The concessionaire has been given 15 days to respond to the notices. Further correspondence would take place between the company and our headquarters in Delhi. Details would be known only when the team of experts share their findings with us.”On Aug 5, NHAI had issued a notice to PNC Infratech to seek its response on the matter before initiating proceedings to declare the company as a non-performer. Officials said the legal team would revisit the terms and conditions in the contract between NHAI and the concessionaire once the response is received before initiating further action.
