The Central Government agency RITES has been asked to give its report on the quality of construction of Agra-lucknow Expressway and certify whether the construction has been carried out as per prescribed norm and matched international standard.
The CEO Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority Avnish Awasthi told The Pioneer that minor discrepancy has been found in the construction of one section of the expressway.
“We are still waiting for the final report from the RITES then a decision will be taken on this,” he tsaid here on Sunday.
Officials of Central Government agencies RITES were also part of this team which collected samples from different sections of the expressway. This highway has five sections and construction discrepancy has been found in the first section in first 56 kms from Agra.
The 302 km long Agra-lucknow Greenfield Expressway had become a big political issue during election campaign with former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav showcasing it as a major achievement of his Government while the BJP leaders had called this expressway as “expressway of corruption.”
Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had said that BJP Government will probe into all constructions carried out during SP regime. Yogi Government had already ordered probe into purchase of land used for construction ofAgra-lucknow Expressway and an FIR has been lodged in Firozabad. This was the first time an inspection has been carried out to check construction quality.
The probe agency has dug 202 holes in the first 56 km of the road to know the quality of construction and quantity of bitumen used. Discrepancy has been found in some of these holes.