A major road-widening project in Bihar’s Jehanabad district has become the focus of public scrutiny after several mature trees were left standing in the middle of a newly constructed 7.48-kilometre stretch of the Patna-Gaya main road.
The project, completed at a cost of Rs 100 crore and located approximately 50 kilometers from Patna, was intended to improve traffic flow and connectivity. However, the presence of trees scattered throughout the roadway has instead created obstacles for motorists, posing increased risk of accidents, NDTV reported.
An image of the road has gone viral on social media, fueling criticism of the project’s planning and execution, and raising questions about coordination and accountability of the authorities involved.
Several social media users have raised questions over how such the trees were left standing on a completed road. Fumed at the bizarre construction, a user wrote on X, “No planning. No common sense. Just another episode of taxpayer money being wasted in style.”
Why The Trees Weren’t Removed During Construction
The unusual situation arose during the planning phase, when the district administration requested permission from the forest department to remove the trees obstructing the planned alignment.
The forest department declined the request, instead demanding compensation for 14 hectares of forest land. Unable to meet this condition, the administration proceeded to construct the road around the existing trees rather than delay the project, the NDTV report said.
Unlike trees planted in a straight line, the remaining trees are irregularly spaced, forcing drivers to manoeuvre between them. This design flaw has led to multiple accidents, with local residents and commuters expressing concern over the increased risk, particularly at night or when travelling at higher speeds.
Despite the growing number of incidents, neither the Bihar Road Construction Department nor the local district administration has issued an official statement or outlined steps to resolve the safety hazard.
Many residents have voiced frustration over what they describe as a waste of public funds and a dangerous oversight, with some calling it an “invitation to disaster”.
