National Highway Quality: Why Are Expensive Roads Breaking So Soon?

KAAM KI BAAT Episode 4: National Highway Construction Quality, Road Failures, Expressway Damage and Accountability in India

Imagine a road built with thousands of crores of public money developing cracks, sinking, or forming dangerous potholes within months of opening. These are not ordinary residential streets. We are talking about major National Highway and expressway projects designed to improve connectivity and support India’s development.

So, why do expensive infrastructure projects sometimes fail so quickly? Is the problem related to design, construction materials, soil stability, drainage, or quality inspections? In Episode 4 of Kaam Ki Baat, we examine these questions and explore why infrastructure accountability must become a priority.

Case 1: Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway Road Slippage

The approximately 63-kilometre Lucknow–Kanpur Expressway, developed at a reported cost of around ₹4,200 crore, faced serious concerns shortly after opening.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a road slippage measuring approximately 300 metres was observed near kilometre 64 on July 26, 2026. NHAI initiated restoration work, ordered a technical assessment, and took action involving the concessionaire, independent engineer and concerned officials.

The incident raises important questions about soil stability, bearing capacity, construction quality and supervision.

Were the ground conditions adequately assessed? Was material quality independently verified? Were construction and compaction procedures properly monitored?

A technical investigation is essential to establish the actual causes rather than relying on assumptions.

Case 2: Delhi–Dehradun Expressway Cave-In

The Delhi–Dehradun Expressway experienced a road cave-in near Shamli following heavy rainfall in July 2026.

NHAI attributed the incident to localised water stagnation and an incomplete cross-drainage arrangement. The authority also reported that permanent slope-protection and drainage works remained pending because of a land-related dispute. The damaged section was repaired, and interim drainage measures were initiated.

This incident highlights an important infrastructure lesson: drainage planning is not optional.

Monsoon rainfall is a predictable environmental condition in India. Therefore, highway design must account for water flow, drainage capacity, slope protection and local terrain.

Case 3: Ganga Expressway and Construction Quality Concerns

The 594-kilometre Ganga Expressway connects Meerut with Prayagraj and was inaugurated in Hardoi on April 29, 2026.

Reports of rain-related road damage and sinking in the supplied episode script raise further questions about construction quality and preventive inspections.

If a road surface develops defects after rainfall, investigators must examine drainage performance, soil conditions, load-bearing capacity and construction records.

The important question is not simply how quickly a damaged section can be repaired, but whether the underlying cause has been identified and addressed.

Infrastructure Quality: Why Should Standards Differ?

The episode also contrasts public infrastructure with the well-maintained roads, parks and facilities shown in Jharkhand’s MLA Colony.

The broader question is straightforward: if organised infrastructure maintenance is possible in one locality, why should comparable standards not be pursued for ordinary citizens?

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Roads, parks and public facilities are essential community infrastructure. Their quality should be evaluated through consistent service standards, transparent maintenance practices and public accountability.

Road and Bridge Failures Require Systematic Quality Control

Road damage is only one part of the larger infrastructure challenge. Bridge failures, retaining-wall problems and structural deterioration also highlight the importance of engineering inspections and preventive maintenance.

A systematic National Highway quality-control process should examine:

• Soil conditions and foundation stability.

• Material testing and construction specifications.

• Load-bearing capacity and expected traffic volume.

• Drainage performance and rainfall exposure.

• Compaction quality and construction-stage inspections.

• Structural safety and maintenance requirements.

For bridges, assessments should additionally consider flood conditions, foundation behaviour, structural loading and seismic risks.

Earthquake-prone regions require appropriate seismic design standards and structural assessments. Countries such as Japan demonstrate why earthquake preparedness must be integrated into infrastructure planning rather than treated as an afterthought.

Who Is Responsible When Infrastructure Fails?

A highway or bridge is rarely the responsibility of a single organisation. Its development involves government departments, NHAI, contractors, consultants, engineers, quality auditors and inspection teams.

When defects emerge, accountability should establish:

1. Who approved the engineering design?

2. Who conducted soil and material testing?

3. Who supervised construction and verified quality?

4. Who inspected drainage and structural safety?

5. Who certified the project for public use?

6. Who is responsible for repair costs when contractual defects are established?

Public funds should not automatically bear the cost of correcting deficiencies attributable to a contractor or another responsible stakeholder. Contractual obligations, investigation findings and applicable procedures must determine responsibility.

Six Sigma and a Zero-Error Approach to Infrastructure

Industries use quality-management approaches such as Six Sigma to reduce defects, monitor processes and improve consistency.

Infrastructure projects can similarly strengthen data-driven quality assurance through independent material testing, documented inspections, risk assessments and continuous monitoring.

A zero-error approach should not mean assuming that failures are impossible. It should mean identifying foreseeable risks early, reducing preventable defects and ensuring that safety concerns are addressed before projects enter public use.

From Repair Culture to Prevention Culture

The objective of Kaam Ki Baat is not merely to highlight damaged roads but to encourage constructive solutions.

Civil engineers, structural engineers, geotechnical specialists, quality-control experts and government agencies should work together to strengthen infrastructure standards.

Independent safety assessments, regular bridge inspections, effective drainage systems and transparent maintenance records can help improve public confidence.

Ultimately, a National Highway is more than asphalt, concrete and steel. It represents public investment, engineering responsibility and citizens’ trust.

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If roads deteriorate soon after construction, the investigation must examine the entire system—not just the damaged surface.

Because development is not simply about building roads. It is about building safe, durable infrastructure that serves everyone.

And if quality infrastructure is possible in a VIP locality, why should ordinary citizens receive anything less?

Keep asking questions. Share photographs, videos and experiences of damaged roads, unsafe bridges or poor construction in your area. Public awareness can help bring attention to infrastructure concerns and encourage meaningful accountability.

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