New Delhi: Within two months of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, two large potholes have appeared near Shamli, just after the monsoon arrived in the area. While the Congress slammed the ruling party, alleging ‘misappropriation of funds’, the NHAI blamed the local residents for the incident.
Motorists plying on the expressway, which was built at a cost of more than Rs 12,000 crore, are making videos and posting them on social media.
“₹12,000-Crore Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Crumbles in First Rain. Just months after its grand inauguration by PM Narendra Modi on April 14, the “world-class” Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has developed severe potholes with the very first monsoon rains, causing heavy damage to vehicles,” wrote a user on X.
Several users also tagged Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, raising questions about road quality and calling for inspection. However, Gadkari has not responded to the matter.
“Thankfully, no lives were lost; get it repaired quickly, and blacklist the company and contractor—as well as any other firms—involved in this work,” wrote another user on X.
‘Rampant corruption’
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) issued a statement on the matter, claiming that the potholes occurred on the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor due to water stagnation after rainfall, coupled with constraints in commissioning the permanent cross-drainage system at the location.
“The affected stretch was identified during routine route patrolling in the early hours of 1 July, and restoration works were immediately undertaken. The location was repaired on priority, ensuring safe and uninterrupted movement of traffic,” wrote NHAI on X, several hours after the incident.
Blaming local residents for not letting them build a balancing culvert at the location, the highway body claimed that they used the culvert opening for vehicular movement.
“As an interim measure, NHAI has commenced construction of a parallel drain over approximately 1.5 km long and is redesigning the drainage gradient to ensure safe disposal of rainwater until the permanent drainage system can be commissioned,” NHAI said.
Meanwhile, the Congress alleged corruption in the expressway project.
In a post on X on Thursday, Congress said that PM Modi inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway on April 14. But just two months later, massive potholes appeared on this expressway.
“This shows that rampant corruption and embezzlement of funds took place in the construction of this expressway,” said Congress.
The party further said this is not the first such case.
“Across the country, whether it’s bridges or roads, highways or water tanks, railway stations or airport roofs—infrastructure is collapsing everywhere,” claimed Congress, adding that the Modi government is fatal for the country and the people.
Notably, huge cracks were also on the Ganga Expressway, which was built for Rs 36,000 crore, within a month of its inauguration by PM Modi.
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‘Not just a road’
In April, on Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti, Modi inaugurated the 213-km six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, which passes through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It includes features aimed at reducing human-animal conflict.
“The Dehradun-Delhi Economic Corridor will transform the entire region. The Corridor will save time, travel will become cheaper and faster, people will spend less on petrol and diesel, and fares and freight costs will decrease, it will also facilitate employment,” said Modi during the inauguration.
Modi observed that the corridor, which passes through Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli, and Saharanpur, is poised to revitalise these cities in Uttar Pradesh as well.
“This is not just a road. It opens new avenues for trade, industry, warehousing, and logistics across the entire region,” said Modi.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)