"These trees would be chopped into fuel wood to be distributed among the poor, homeless and slum dwellers during the winter," said Sitaram Rai, a rickshaw-puller.

That, however, was only his wish, not a fact. The perception of the contractor's nominee Rohit Kumar was different. "The truck and branches of felled tree will be cut into logs and taken to Birchand Patel Path," he said, adding: "We have the official permission to fell them. I don't know anything more than that."

According to him, the dry trees along Birchand Patel Path, Serpentine Road and those near the Patna High Court would be felled.

There are about 15 of them: Six along Birchand Patel Path, five along Serpentine Road and four near the high court.

Patna DFO A K Prasad said the road construction department was getting the trees felled, while the forest department has issued "permission" for the same.

"These dry trees, located along busy area, are hazardous for traffic. The road construction department sought our permission," Prasad said, and added that after these trees are felled, the logs would be stacked at one point, when the forest department officials would assess the value and quality of the logs and fix the rate for auction.

Prasad, in fact, has written to the road construction department to mark the "hazardous" trees located along Bailey Road and initiate measures for their felling.

"There are around 70 to 80 such trees in Patna alone," Rohit said. Indeed, Patnaites will be grateful if connoisseurs of art record these for posterity.