NHAI Suspends Toll Collection on New Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended toll collection on the newly inaugurated ₹4,200 crore Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway just 13 days after it was opened to public traffic. Officials confirmed that toll plazas along the major highway corridor have temporarily ceased charging commuters, allowing toll-free passage until further notice. The sudden decision was executed following high-level administrative reviews regarding operational readiness, service lane completion, and ongoing safety assessments along specific stretches of the expressway.

The high-speed 63-kilometer expressway was constructed to reduce travel time between Uttar Pradesh's industrial capital Kanpur and state capital Lucknow to under 45 minutes. However, commuters and local passenger associations raised concerns regarding incomplete entry-exit ramps, pending street lighting installations, and surface roughness on uncompleted flyover segments. The hasty implementation of toll charges prior to 100 percent infrastructure completion sparked widespread public feedback, prompting the central highway authority to intervene and mandate immediate corrective measures.

NHAI engineering teams have been deployed along the route to fix remaining civil works, complete signage installation, and ensure strict safety compliance across all lanes. Toll collection will remain suspended until highway inspectors certify that all construction standards, safety barriers, and commuter amenities meet prescribed guidelines. Transport experts note that the move highlights growing public scrutiny over toll collection standards on newly built national highways across India.