The caving in of a section of the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg on Thursday night has raised questions about the quality of the work on the highway, inaugurated just over a year ago in December 2022. The crater on the stretch near Amravati is deep enough to reveal the iron girders below, and is said to have been caused when the driver of a multi-axle vehicle changed tyres. However, the MSRDC calls it “minor, local damage” in its statement, adding that it will be fixed in five days.

Anilkumar Gaikwad, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of MSRDC, said, “Prima facie, we have been told that the crater developed because of the point load pressure on the road surface caused by the jack used to change tyres of a heavy vehicle. The chief engineer has been instructed to investigate further, and action will be taken against the contractor if he is found guilty.”