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Bihar Files FIR After Trees Remain in Center of ₹100-Crore Highway

Motorists on the Patna–Gaya highway now navigate a tree-strewn stretch under makeshift safety installations after forest authorities refused to grant tree-felling clearance without 14 hectares of compensatory land.

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Overview

  • The Jehanabad district magistrate lodged an FIR against the contractor for proceeding with the ₹100-crore, 7.48 km road-widening project without proper forest department approval.
  • Full-grown trees were deliberately left standing on the new carriageway, forcing vehicles into a hazardous zig-zag alignment linked to multiple accidents.
  • The forest department denied a No Objection Certificate to fell the trees and insisted on 14 hectares of compensatory forest land before granting clearance.
  • Emergency measures now include barricades, painted drums, sandbags and reflective tape installed around each tree to warn drivers and reduce collision risk.
  • The standoff underscores persistent friction between Bihar’s rapid infrastructure expansion and national forest conservation laws on compensatory afforestation.