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India’s most expensive expressway, built at a staggering cost of ₹250 crore per kilometer, has come under scrutiny following a devastating incident where a pole structure collapsed onto a moving car after just one storm. This shocking turn of events has raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of the infrastructure, especially given the astronomical cost of construction.
The expressway, touted as a major feat of engineering and development, was expected to transform travel in the region, offering speed, efficiency, and world-class infrastructure. However, the ₹250 crore per kilometer price tag has raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether the exorbitant cost was justified. For context, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had previously estimated the cost to be around ₹18 crore per kilometer, sparking debates on the dramatic price hike.
The incident occurred after a heavy storm, when a part of the expressway’s pole structure suddenly collapsed onto a moving vehicle. The result was disastrous: innocent passengers in the car were injured, creating widespread panic.
The incident quickly became a trending topic on social media, with concerned citizens and experts alike criticizing the lack of durability and safety in the construction of the expressway.India’s
Despite its promises of top-tier safety standards and state-of-the-art design, the expressway has now become a symbol of mismanagement and inadequate quality control. For many, this incident serves as a glaring example of how cost overruns and rushed construction can compromise the very safety they were meant to enhance.
The collapse of the pole structure has brought into sharp focus the question of whether adequate safety measures and testing were in place during the design and construction phases. Experts have raised doubts about whether the engineering standards adhered to were suitable for the extreme weather conditions the region often faces. Furthermore, the fact that the structure fell after a relatively mild storm has led many to ask whether such incidents are an expected risk in the future. If one storm can bring down such a crucial component of the infrastructure, what does that say about the overall resilience of the expressway?
The public’s anger is palpable, with citizens questioning how such a high-cost project could result in such substandard infrastructure. The incident has ignited calls for accountability from both the construction companies involved and the government officials who approved the project. Opposition leaders have also seized the opportunity to criticize the current administration for failing to ensure the safety of its citizens, despite the significant amount of taxpayer money invested into the expressway. With the country’s infrastructure budget constantly growing, many are calling for more rigorous oversight and transparency in the awarding of contracts for major public projects.India’s
In response to the growing backlash, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and whether any negligence was involved. The outcome of this investigation will likely play a pivotal role in restoring (or further damaging) public trust in the country’s infrastructure projects.
While the expressway remains an important symbol of India’s push for modern infrastructure, this unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for caution when it comes to spending taxpayer money on large-scale projects. As the government, builders, and citizens await the results of the investigation, one thing is certain: this costly expressway will remain in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.India’s
The expressway was meant to symbolize India’s progress, but for now, it stands as a cautionary tale of how even the grandest of infrastructure projects can be compromised when safety is sidelined in favor of cost-cutting or rushed construction.India’s
