Bihar's ₹100 crore road project has trees standing in the middle, sparks outrage
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In a bizarre turn of events, a ₹100 crore road widening project in Bihar’s Jehanabad district has turned into a safety hazard.
The road has large trees still standing in the middle of the newly built road.
This is making it a potential death trap for commuters.
Located just 50 kilometers from Patna, the Patna-Gaya main road was expanded to improve connectivity and ease traffic. The 7.48 km stretch is freshly paved and free of potholes, promising a smooth driving experience - until drivers are forced to swerve around trees inexplicably rooted right in the middle of the road.
These trees weren’t planted overnight.
The confusion stems from a bureaucratic standoff.
During the planning phase, the district administration approached the forest department for clearance to cut down the trees that stood in the path of the widening project. However, the forest department refused to grant permission unless they were compensated for 14 hectares of forest land.
Unable to meet the compensation demand, the administration chose a questionable alternative: building the road around the trees, leaving them exactly where they stood—even if that meant placing them right in the middle of traffic lanes.
The result is a haphazard layout where the trees are not even aligned in a straight line, making them impossible for drivers to consistently predict and avoid.
As one local observer described it, “It appears to be an Rs 100 crore invitation to death.”
Several accidents have already occurred due to these obstructions, but there has been little movement from officials to address the growing safety concern. “Many accidents have already happened due to trees being in the middle of the road,” a passerby noted.
Despite the mounting risks, the district administration has yet to take any decisive steps to resolve the issue. Questions are now being raised about accountability. “Who will be held responsible if a major accident occurs and someone dies?” a local resident asked.
