Part of new Delhi-Dehradun Expressway caves in after rains
A section of the newly built Delhi-Dehradun Expressway caved in on Wednesday (July 2, 2026) morning following overnight rainfall, triggering concerns over the quality of
A section of the newly built Delhi-Dehradun Expressway caved in on Wednesday (July 2, 2026) morning following overnight rainfall, triggering concerns over the quality of its construction. Videos of the damaged stretch quickly went viral on social media, with users questioning safety for motorists, and how a flagship infrastructure project could develop such damage within months of becoming operational. The affected stretch has since been repaired and traffic movement restored, the Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said.
The cave-in was caused by localised waterlogging following heavy rainfall, and the inability to operationalise a permanent cross-drainage system due to resistance by local residents, the NHAI said in a press statement. The damaged stretch was identified during routine patrols and repaired immediately, allowing traffic to continue uninterrupted, according to the NHAI. A balancing culvert meant to drain rainwater could not be commissioned due to resistance from local residents, who have been using the culvert opening as a vehicle crossing, the roads authority said.
Permanent slope protection and drainage works remain stalled because of a land-related arbitration dispute with landowners, the NHAI said. As an interim measure, the NHAI has constructed a 1.5-km parallel drain, and is redesigning the drainage system to safely channel rainwater until the permanent drainage infrastructure can be completed. The site is being monitored continuously, and the pending permanent works will be undertaken once the land dispute is resolved, the NHAI said.
The 210-km Delhi-Dehradun Expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2026.
The BriefWire