Repeated Cracks, Gaps and Repairs Raise Questions Over Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Quality Near Ankleshwar
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Motorists on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway are once again facing disruption near Ankleshwar as repair work to replace deteriorated Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) panels has affected traffic movement towards Surat.
Damaged PQC Panels Being Replaced
The damaged concrete sections deteriorated following heavy rains, prompting authorities to demolish the affected portions and reconstruct them.
As repair work continues, traffic travelling from Bharuch towards Surat is being diverted to two lanes, causing inconvenience for motorists using the busy expressway.
Repeated Repairs Raise Questions
The latest work is not the first repair exercise on this stretch. In March this year, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) carried out repairs after cracks and gaps appeared at several locations on the cement-concrete road between Kim and Bharuch.
The stretch again came under scrutiny in July when a large section of concrete on a bridge between Adol and Piludra villages near Ankleshwar was damaged.
A gap measuring around 7 to 8 feet had opened up, leaving steel reinforcement bars exposed. A tempo overturned after hitting the damaged section, although no casualties were reported.
Calls For Probe Into Frequent Damage
The repeated deterioration and repair of road sections within a short period have raised concerns over the quality and durability of the expressway's construction.
The latest PQC replacement work has once again brought those concerns to the fore, with demands for an investigation into the frequent damage and repeated repairs on the stretch.
