Bihar's bizarre road widening: Trees left standing tall on Rs 100 crore road in Jehanabad

Credit: @MihirkJha / X

A road widening project worth Rs 100 crore in Bihar’s Jehanabad district, just 50 km from Patna, has become the centre of attention, for the trees left standing right in the middle of the newly constructed road. Instead of a modern highway easing traffic flow, what drivers now face is an obstacle course that poses a serious risk to lives, NDTV reported.

The 7.48-km stretch on the Patna–Gaya main road was supposed to improve connectivity and reduce congestion. However, due to a lack of coordination between government departments, several fully grown trees remain awkwardly placed in the centre of the road. A viral image of one such tree, standing tall on the blacktop with vehicles passing around it, has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many calling it a symbol of poor planning and execution.

According to the NDTV report, the district administration had approached the forest department for permission to remove the trees during the project planning stage. However, the forest department refused unless compensation was paid for 14 hectares of forest land. Unable to meet this demand, the administration decided to carry on with the road construction without removing the trees.

The result is a zigzagging stretch where trees are not in a straight line but randomly positioned, making it extremely difficult and dangerous for vehicles to pass through. A local resident told NDTV that multiple accidents have already occurred due to this bizarre layout.

Despite these dangers, there has been no effective action so far to address the issue. Officials were allegedly aware of the trees during the construction, yet allowed the project to proceed.

So far, neither the Bihar Road Construction Department nor the local administration has issued a formal explanation.