A newly constructed stretch of the Ram Van Gaman Path near Shringverpur Dham in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, has come under scrutiny after cracks and signs of sinking were reported at multiple points following rainfall. The development has raised questions over construction quality and supervision of the major infrastructure project.
The controversy intensified after journalist Ravi Bahadur was reportedly stopped while attempting to document the damaged road and question people associated with the project.
Cracks Reported At Multiple Locations
According to reports, portions of the newly built road developed cracks or sank at around four locations across a roughly 100-metre stretch between the Lucknow road and the Ganga bridge at Shringverpur Dham.
The timing has particularly drawn attention, as the road is yet to complete its full operational lifecycle. The damage following rainfall has prompted questions about whether the road construction, drainage and underlying preparation meet the required engineering standards.
PNC Infratech Under The Spotlight
The affected stretch is associated with the NH-731A package, covering Singraur Uphar-Baranpur Kadipur-Ichauli and including the Ganga Bridge component. PNC Infratech received the Letter of Acceptance for the project in April 2023.
Company disclosures cited in reports put the package cost at approximately ₹819 crore. Since the project involves substantial public expenditure, any premature structural damage is likely to attract scrutiny from both authorities and the public.
Rainfall Or Construction Quality?
Officials have reportedly attributed the damage to rainfall and indicated that repairs would be undertaken. However, the incident has raised a broader question: should a newly constructed highway section develop cracks or sink merely after rainfall?
Experts and investigators would need to examine factors including road-base preparation, soil conditions, drainage arrangements, compaction, materials used and adherence to approved engineering specifications before determining the cause.
A technical inspection could establish whether the damage was primarily weather-related or linked to construction and site conditions.
Journalist Allegedly Stopped From Asking Questions
The issue gained further attention after journalist Ravi Bahadur was reportedly prevented from questioning officials while covering the damaged section.
The reported incident has triggered concerns about transparency surrounding a publicly funded infrastructure project. Questions about the quality of government-funded construction are legitimate matters of public interest, particularly when visible damage appears before a project is fully operational.
If the construction meets all prescribed standards, a transparent technical assessment and inspection report could help address public concerns.
What About The Ram Van Gaman Path Project?
The Ram Van Gaman Path is intended to improve connectivity between important religious and historical locations associated with Lord Ram, including the broader Ayodhya–Chitrakoot corridor. Earlier plans for the Uttar Pradesh route envisaged connectivity through locations including Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Shringverpur and Rajapur.
The project is also expected to support religious tourism and improve road connectivity in the region.
Naveen Jain And PNC Infratech Connection
Another issue being discussed is the financial connection between BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naveen Jain and PNC Infratech. According to the report, Jain’s 2024 election affidavit disclosed a significant holding in the company.
However, a financial stake in a company does not by itself establish involvement in the construction work or responsibility for the reported road damage. Any such connection would need to be examined separately from the engineering questions surrounding the project.
Why The Incident Matters
The reported cracks may ultimately prove to be repairable weather-related damage, but the episode highlights the need for accountability in major infrastructure projects.
For a project involving hundreds of crores of public money, authorities should ideally clarify:
- What caused the cracks and sinking?
- Was the road inspected before opening?
- Were drainage and soil-compaction standards properly followed?
- Who carried out the quality-control inspections?
- What corrective work is being ordered?
- Will an independent technical investigation be conducted?
Until a detailed engineering assessment is made public, it would be premature to conclude that the damage was caused by poor construction.
Watch: Journalist’s Questions Spark Controversy
The reported confrontation involving journalist Ravi Bahadur has added another dimension to the controversy. The incident has intensified calls for greater transparency around the condition of the Ram Van Gaman Path and the responsibilities of agencies and contractors involved in its construction.
