After repeated damage, NHAI orders structural audit of Delhi-Gurugram flyover

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced today that it has appointed the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to conduct a structural audit of the Hero Honda Chowk flyover on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway. The decision comes after a portion of the road on the flyover was damaged a few days ago, causing disruptions.

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Hero Honda Chowk flyover

August 2014: Flyover sanctioned

July 2017: Flyover inaugurated

2018: Concrete chunk falls off within a year

May 2019: Flyover suffers further damage

May 2023: Two supervising officials arrested but later released

May 2024: Road surface damaged again in May

January 2025: NHAI announces structural audit by CRRI

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the NHAI stated, “Taking note of the incident, the NHAI has appointed CRRI to conduct a structural audit of this flyover and suggest permanent rectification measures for the project.”

Following the incident, the NHAI implemented temporary lane closures. Apologising for the inconvenience, the authority said, “Following the recent incident of falling of a small portion of the deck slab of the Hero Honda Chowk Flyover (Jaipur to Delhi Fast Lane), temporary lane closures have been implemented. The inconvenience caused to road users is regretted.”

The 1.4-km-long flyover, sanctioned in August 2014 and inaugurated in July 2017, has faced recurring structural issues. A chunk of concrete fell off in 2018, barely a year after its inauguration. The flyover suffered further damage in May 2019 and again in May 2024.

In 2019, Ramesh Kumar Yadav, a local RTI activist, filed a complaint at the Sector 37 police station, alleging the use of substandard materials in the construction. The police registered an FIR and collected road surface samples for lab testing, which confirmed the claims.

The flyover's contractor, Valecha Engineering Limited, repaired the damage at the time. However, in May 2023, two officials of Indian Technocrat Limited (ITL), the supervising agency for the project, were arrested by the police. They were released on bail after joining the investigation.

In response to the recurring issues, the NHAI appointed a three-member expert committee, which recommended hiring a specialised agency to assess the flyover's structural integrity. Acting on this recommendation, the NHAI has now tasked the CRRI with conducting a comprehensive structural audit and suggesting permanent solutions.