The 7.48 km, 4-lane highway, completed in late June, features a peculiar obstacle: several large trees standing directly in the traffic lanes. Drivers are forced to swerve around the trees, raising concerns about safety and project planning. Critics question how such obstructions could be left on a finished highway.

According to NDTV, officials involved in the project were aware of the trees throughout the construction process. This raises questions about the approval process and the coordination between departments responsible for road infrastructure and forest conservation.

Officials attribute the situation not to incompetence, but to a bureaucratic impasse. During construction, the Public Works Department (PWD) sought permission from the Forest Department to relocate the trees. However, the Forest Department refused to issue a permit unless the PWD provided 14 ha of compensatory forest land elsewhere in Jehanabad.

Unable to meet this requirement, the PWD, according to India Today, proceeded with construction, building the road around the immovable trees.

The situation gained widespread attention on 30/6, when photos of the tree-lined highway circulated on social media, sparking outrage and ridicule. In response, the district administration filed a complaint against the construction company for proceeding without proper forest clearance permits.

Interim safety measures have been implemented. Reflective tape has been wrapped around the trees, and sandbags and metal drums have been placed around them to alert drivers, especially at night. Authorities have also begun barricading the affected sections of the road to prevent collisions.

My Anh