Akhilesh Yadav Accuses Corruption in the Lucknow‑Kanpur Expressway Project

Yesterday, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav took to a press conference and didn’t mince words. He slammed the ongoing Lucknow‑Kanpur Expressway project, saying it’s riddled with “nothing short of blatant corruption”.

According to Yadav, the contract awards were handled in a highly opaque manner. “The tendering process was manipulated, the costs were blown up beyond reason, and a handful of insiders are pocketing the money,” he asserted, pausing for effect before adding a sigh that hinted at personal disappointment.

He pointed to specific figures – the highway’s estimated cost, he claimed, had swelled by more than 30 percent compared to the original budget approved five years ago. “When you compare the bill with similar projects in neighboring states, the numbers just don’t add up,” Yadav remarked, gesturing towards a chart he’d displayed on a screen.

The former chief minister also insinuated that certain officials close to the present administration were benefitting. While he stopped short of naming anyone directly, he hinted that “the same circles that have been at the helm of other questionable contracts are now pulling the strings here as well.”

Yadav’s criticism comes at a time when the expressway – touted as a flagship infrastructure venture by the Yogi‑Adityanath government – is already halfway through construction. The 86‑kilometre stretch, meant to slash travel time between the two major cities, has been delayed several times, fueling speculation about the underlying reasons.

Supporters of the current state government quickly dismissed Yadav’s claims as “political mud‑slinging”. A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure responded, “All procedures followed were in strict compliance with national guidelines; any suggestion of irregularities is unfounded.” Yet Yadav’s camp remains unconvinced, vowing to submit a formal petition to the state’s anti‑corruption bureau.

In the broader picture, this spat highlights the persistent tension between rival political camps in Uttar Pradesh, especially when high‑value development projects are on the line. For now, residents of Lucknow and Kanpur are left watching the highway’s progress, wondering whether the road will ever truly be built on solid ground – both literally and ethically.