COMMUNICATIONS

ROADS

Buldhana district was not served with good roads at the begin-ning of this century. The following is the description of road routes existing at the time of the compilation of the old Gazetteer of Buldhana district in 1910:—

"The next step was to provide the railway with a system of feeder roads running north and south of it, but it was some time before much was done in this direction. The original settlement reports are full of complaints as to the primitive nature of the roads, and in 1870 when the old Berar Gazetteer was written, the only metalled road in the District was one 12 miles long from Khamgaon to Nandura railway station. There were five other roads, partly running in the District, marked out and levelled, but neither bridged nor metalled. These were Shegaon to Kham-gaon (11 miles), Shegaon to Balapur (12 miles), Khamgaon to Balapur (18 miles). Shegaon to Bawanbir (18 miles), and Nan-dura to Jalgaon (18 miles). In 1870 Sir A. Lyall wrote of the Berar roads as follows:—

'The want of easy and perennial communication does much to counterbalance the other physical advantages of Berar. In the last few years the English have made two or three metalled lines, but the rest of the province is traversed only by cart-tracks. In the valley of Berar these run mostly over the black soil, and most of them may be said to exist only for eight months in the year. During those five months they are very passable by coun-try carts; where the track runs wide and level it could not easily be improved but it is apt to be cut across by abrupt water-courses, and narrowed into a hollow ditch by the encroachments of the fieldowners on each side. In the rains very many tracks disappear altogether—the peasants plough them clean up; but en revanche the first cart that reopens communication after the wet season may select its own line across the field. During the four rainy months all travel or traffic by wheels is stopped—the fertile soil has turned into a black bog.'

'Above the Ghats the ground is harder, but often covered with loose round stones; and it is hard to decide whether sticking in the mud or stumbling over the stones is the more disheartening to adventurers in Berar between June and October.'

'The remedy for this state of things is not easy. Metalling is terribly expensive; the material (broken basalt) is bad and does not bind; constant repairs are essential, for a neglected metalled road is far worse in the open season than one quite unmetalled and after all your costly macadamized road is only worth its price from June to October. But this is the dull season, when there is no crop to cart to market, and when all the people are ploughing and sowing'.

' Then as to unmetalled roads. It might be thought obviously advantageous to demarcate at least the main routes and to garnish with sign-posts and mile-stones. But if we marked out one strip of black soil as the road the public must stick to their bargain, and could not change when the road had got cut to wrinkles; whereas now the custom of the country allows great latitude to travellers in the matter of short cuts and detours. Therefore we want either first class roads or none, and, as Mr. Rivett-Carnac observes, the first class metalled road is little less costly than a railway. Possibly it may be true that here, as in Russia, iron is destined to do the work of stone for the great permanent roads.

Development of Roads.— " Since this was written much progress has been made in spite of their cost it has heen found possible to equip the District with a good system of roads connecting talukas and all important centres of trade. Both the first and second class roads are provided with bridges or causeways throughout except at the crossings of the Purna and the Kate Purna. To bridge these two rivers would be too costly an undertaking and not warranted by the traffic. First class roads are all metalled with hard indurated basalt, which is obtained from the local trap. Sir Alfred Lyall's description of this basalt does not agree with the opinions held to-day. Though difficult to consolidate at the out-set, it is very good for hard traffic and does not wear into ruts so easily as other material. It has five or six years' life, while quartz lasts only for three years. Second class roads are all muramed; muram is disintegrated trap, and a better quality is found in Berar than elsewhere. The old roads are as a rule 12 feet wide, but the recent tendency has been to construct them only 9 feet in width, this being the standard width for the Central Provinces. The broader roads are more suitable for Berar where the traffic is heavy. "

"The main roads of the District under the Public Works Department are as follows: —

Malkapur-Mehkar Road: From Malkapur to Motla (mile 15) this road passes through a rich plain of black cotton soil, from Motla to Rajura (mile 22) the country is undulating and the road, has several tedious and steep nullah approaches; from mile 23 begins the Buldhana ghat. The alignment of the ghat has been taken along spurs overlooking beautiful valleys and has been carefully made, the ruling gradient being 1 in 25. The ghat ends at mile 26, where the plateau of Buldhana is reached, the total rise from Malkapur to Buldhana being 1,200 feet. From Buldhana the road runs in easy gradients, the country gradually falling in three terraces towards Chikhli (mile 42); there is no ghat except at miles 32, 35 and 39 where slight falls for short distances are perceptible. The total length of the road is 70 miles 3 furlongs. With the exception of miles 39 to 42 and 46 to 56, the whole length has been raised to class I. It is proposed now to metal miles 39 to 42, and if this is done, there will be first class communication between Buldhana and Khamgaon via Chikhli. The annual cost of maintenance of this road is Rs. 2,000. It is provided with dak and inspection bungalows as follows: Motla (mile 15) a dak bungalow, Buldhana (mile 28) a combined dak and inspection bungalow and a circuit house: Chikhli (mile 42), Lawalla (mile 56), and Mehkar (mile 71) inspection bungalows. A mail tonga service plies between Malkapur and Buldhana.

Chikhli-]alna Road: Beginning from Chikhli miles 43, 44 and 45 of this road are common with those of the Malkapur-Mehkar road. At the 46th mile the two roads separate and the Chikhli-Jalna road is metalled up to mile 67. From mile 67 to 81 the surface is muram only. Miles 82 to 91 are within the Nizam's Dominions. By this road the Chikhli taluk is brought into connection both with the railway at Malkapur and the railway at Jalna. The annual cost of maintenance of the road is Rs. 9,600. It is provided with inspection bungalows at Mera (mile 52), Deulgaon Pathan (mile 65), and Deulgaon Raja (mile 78).

Khamgaon to Chikhli via Amrapur: This first class road brings Chikhli into connection with the leading cotton mart Khamgaon. It is 38 miles in length and has a very heavy traffic. Its annual cost of maintenance is Rs. 10,350. It is provided with inspection bungalows at Khamgaon (mile 1), Maharkhed (mile 15), and Amrapur (mile 25).

Lawala to Amrapur: By this first class road all the traffic from Mehkar finds its way to Khamgaon. It is 11¹/2 miles in length and its annual cost of maintenance is Rs. 2,225.

Nandura to Jalgaon: Along this second class road the produce of the Jalgaon taluk is carried to the railway. It is 16¹/2 miles in length, and its annual cost of maintenance is Rs. 4,354. At Jalgaon there is a combined dak and inspection bungalow.

Khmgaon-Patur Road: Only 11 miles of this road is in the District. The first mile is metalled and the rest muramed. This road joins via Balapur the Akola-Basim road, and the portion in this District serves as an important feeder to Khamgaon. The annual cost of maintenance of this portion is Rs. 2,325.

The old Nagpur dak line of a total length of 49³/4 miles in the District is also maintained by the Public Works Department as a third class road, and it still serves as an important line of com-munication for the villages adjacent to it. There is a bungalow at Rahiri.

In addition the District Board, who employ their own engineer, maintain the following roads: —

Motala to Nandura: This road, 21 miles in length, connects the large market of Nandura with Buldhana and joins the Malkapur-Buldhana road at Motla.

Nandura to Khamgaon, 10¹/2 miles.

Khamgaon to Shegaon, 10¹/2 miles.

Both these roads bring the villages through which they run into connection with the Khamgaon cotton mart.

Buldhana to Deulghat, 5 miles (of which 1 mile is in Muni-cipal limits).

The circular road 1¹/2 mile long within the limits of Buldhana.

"The first three roads have only recently been handed over by the Public Works Department, who managed them for the District Board.

Statistics of Roads.—"The length and cost of the maintenance of the roads maintained by the Public Works Department is as follows: —

1st class— 120¹/8 miles at Rs. 34,500

2nd class — 65¹/8 miles at Rs. 15,844

3rd class —49³/4 miles at Rs. 2,487

a year, or a total of 235 miles at a cost of Rs. 52,831 per annum. The length of the roads maintained by the District Board is 50 miles, of which 16¹/2 are first class and 33¹/2 second class, and the annual cost of maintenance is Rs. 8,325.

Proposed Roads.—" The roads most urgently needed are those from Buldhana to Dhar (17 miles), and from Buldhana to Kham-gaon (29¹/2 miles), of which the estimated cost is Rs. 61,625. The former will provide an outlet for the rich Dhar pargana, and the latter, whose estimate is Rs. 1,61,391, will be a chord road to Khamgaon, for want of which at present the traffic to Khamgaon has to go via Chikhli and Amrapur, a length of 52 miles. In addition to these two roads a scheme for nine other roads aggre-gating about 122¹/2 miles and costing Rs. 3,85,945 has been pre-pared. These are given below in the order of urgency, and the work will be gradually carried out from Provincial and District Funds.

"The total mileage to be taken up under this scheme is 169 miles, and the cost of construction is Rs. 6,08,961.

Methods of Carriage.—" Prior to the opening of the railway the greater part of the traffic of the district was carried by means of pack bullocks. In 1867 the Settlement Officer wrote of the Chikhli taluk that very few villages possessed carts worthy of the name. 'The clumsy constructions called gadas are made of large blocks of wood bound together with iron and leather, mounted on solid wheels and are so heavy that even when empty they require four bullocks to draw them; almost the only use they are put to is to carry grain and karbi from the fields to the villages. The country tracks are so bad, especially on the low hills, which in most instances separate the villages from each other, generally passing over sheet rock covered with huge stones, and intersected by rough watercourses, that any ordinary cart would run the risk of being jolted to pieces before it had proceeded many miles; and it is often necessary in sending carts to a village not far distant to make a circuit of several miles.' In the other Taluk Reports also there are references to the clumsiness of the Berar country carts. The great develop-ment in the road communication after 1870 was accompanied by an improvement in the carts and also by a great increase in their number. Between 1879 and 1891 the carts in the Malkapur taluk increased from 7,635 to 9,376; between 1870 and 1891 in the Khamgaon taluk from 3,487 to 4,802; between 1868 and 1891 in the Jalgaon taluk from 2,723 to 4,287; between 1867 and 1894 in the Chikhli taluk from 1,831 to 6,366; between 1867 and 1896 in the Mehkar taluk from 1,773 to 5,581. In 1907-08 the number of carts for the various taluks was returned as follows: Malkapur, 12,751; Khamgaon 6,008; Jalgaon 6,226; Chikhli 8,158; Mehkar 7,367. The carts are not classified in any way so that it is impossible to say which particular class of cart showed the greatest in-crease. Carts now ply over the whole District, bullocks, donkeys, ponies and buffaloes being only used as pack animals by itinerant pedlars and the like. The oldest kind of cart in use is that known as ladha. It is made in the usual manner with two long poles meeting in front and joined by a cross beam behind, the floor being made of bamboos or strips of wood nailed on to the side-pieces. It has no regular sides but curved uprights to which a load can be secured. The axle is of iron, and is secured outside the wheel by an iron nail. The wheel is made up of six pieces of wood com-posing its periphery, 12 spokes and a heavy nave, usually of babul wood with an iron tyre. These carts are used for carrying grain from the fields before threshing, and are convenient because the load can bulge out largely on either side.

"The daman is another cart similar to the ladha but of some-what more advanced pattern, it being an importation from Khandesh which lies close to the west of the District. Like the ladha it consists of the usual wheels and an iron axle. Over the axle is a piece of wood called mendki and to this two long poles (dandia) are attached which meet in the front where the yoke is tied. Upon this mendki and the dandia rests an oblong frame of wood called palna, the floor of which being made up of either bamboos or planks of wood nailed to the side pieces. The palna has a railing of wood called katada on both sides about one-and-a-half feet high. The back part is closed by a removeable frame-work to fit the sides. It has a covering of bamboo matting over which a gunny cloth is sometimes spread. It can be used both for travelling and for carrying loads. Both the ladha and daman can carry a load of 15 maunds across the fields or on village tracks, and they cost from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60, about three-fourths of this price being paid for the wheels and axle. The damni is another cart much resembling the daman, also an introduction from Khandesh, but it is lighter and is only used for travelling pur-poses. Its palna which rests on the mendki and the front shafts to which the yoke is tied is a square frame, the floor usually being composed of planks. It has the usual side railings or kathadas , the back part is closed in common with the side railings by a plank called patli; there is also a path in the front but it is smaller than that at the back. It has a covering of matting with a thick cloth over it and a flap either of gunny or cloth both in the front and back to prevent the Sun's rays or rain falling in. The damni is meant for a driver and three passengers, but four or five persons frequently crowd into it. It is usually made of teak and costs from Rs. 35 to 70. The best trotting bullocks will go 6 miles an hour in a damni. The ladha cart is made locally while daman and damni are imported from Khandesh. The latter carts which are used in the District are bought at Nandura market after Diwali and at Pimpalgaon Devi during the fair. Very few carts of this pattern are made locally as those from Khandesh are considered to be superior. There is another cart called vaddar gadi which is of very inferior construction and of which the wheels are mere solid discs of wood very narrow at the tyre. It has a wooden axle and over it is a central shaft form-ing the yoke beam to which two flat logs of wood are attached on either side. It has no regular sides but a few uprights to secure the load. This cart is only used for carrying stones and boulders along rough stony paths, and from its clumsy construction, the smallness of its wheels and the narrowness of the tyre it is very injurious to the roads."[Central Provinces District Gazeetters; Buldana District,Vol. A,1910 pp.278—87.]

National Highways.— There is only one national highway passing through this district, viz., the Bombay-Dhulia-Nagpur-Calcutta road. A brief description of the highway is given in what follows:

Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta Road: This national highway traverses Nagpur, Wardha, Amravati and Akola Districts and enters the Buldhana district at mile 186/7 from Nagpur. It traverses the northern portion of the district and then enters Jalgaon district at mile number 237/7. In its course in the district, first it runs from cast to west, then towards north-west up to Malkapur after which it runs towards the north. It covers a distance of about 82 km (51 miles) in Buldhana district, and passes through Khamgaon and Malkapur tahsils. It touches the following important places at mile number indicated against them:Khamgaon 201 (C.H.[Circuit House.] & R.H.[Rest House.]), Nandura 211 (R.H.) and Malkapur 229 (R.H.)

The following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it:—

This highway crosses the Bombay-Nagpur railway route at mile 228/1 at Malkapur and runs parallel to it for some distance.

There are three major bridges on this road, one on Dnyanganga river near Nandura (mile 210/3), another between Nandura and Malkapur on Vishwaganga river (mile 220/4) and the third be-yond Malkapur. This road is fully black-topped and motorable throughout the year.

State Highways.— There are seven state highways in Buldhana district, viz., (i) Malkapur-Jalna-Osmanabad-Sholapur Road, (ii) Ajantha-Buldhana road, (iii) Chikhli-Khamgaon-Deori Phata road, (iv) Chikhli-Mehkar-Malegaon road, (v) Mehkar-Lonar Mantha road, (vi) Deulgaon Raja-Pusad-Mandvi road, (vii) Edlabad-Akot-Walgaon road.

Malkapur-Jalna-Osmanabad-Sholapur Road [This is proposed to be upgraded as a National Highway during the Fifth Five-Year Plan.]. This state highway starts from Malkapur and runs along the western border of the district from north to south and enters the Aurangabad district. It covers a distance of 78 miles in this district and traverses Malkapur, Chikhali and Mehkar tahsils.

It touches the following towns and villages in its stretch: viz., Motala—24 km (15 miles), Buldhana (R. H.,) 45 km (28 miles), Hatmi 61 km (38 miles), Chikhali 68 km (42 miles), Deulgaon Mahi (R.H.) 106 km (66 miles) and Deulgaon Raja 123 km (77 miles).

The road crosses a number of streams and rivers and at each crossing there is a bridge. They are located at the following places: at Mile No. 6/1 on a nalla near Datala; Mile No. 15 on the Nalganga river near Motala; at Mile No. 32/4 on Penganga river; at Mile No. 66/1 on Khadak Purna river and at Mile No. 77/5 on Aman river.

The following roads either take off from it or arc crossed by it: —

* Major District Road.
† National Highway.
‡ State Highway.

Ajantha-Buldhana Road: This state highway starts from Buldhana and runs perpendicular to Malkapur-Jalna road on the western border of the district from east to west and enters Jalgaon district. It traverses a distance of 15 miles (24 km) in this district out of its total length of 28 miles. It passes through Chikhali tahsil.

The Buldhana-Ajantha road touches the following villages in its stretch, viz., Palaskhed 40 km (25 miles); Padali 37 km (23 miles) and Buldhana 52 km.

The road crosses a number of small streams the important ones being at the following location:—

(1) Penganga river near Palaskhed at 41 km, and

(2) Penganga river near at Deulghat at 43 km.

No important road either takes off from it or is crossed by it.

Chikhali-Khamgaon-Deori Road: This state highway starts from Chikhali and runs almost north-eastwards. It passes through Chikhali and Khamgaon tahsils and then enters Akola district between Shegaon and Andura. The total length of the road is 76 miles and one furlong, of which 51 miles 3 furlongs are covered in this district. The road touches the following towns and villages in its stretch:—

Amdapur 13/0 miles, Undri 19 mile's, Khamgaon 37/7 miles, Shegaon 48/3 miles in Buldhana district; and Andura 89 miles in Akola district. It crosses the Mand river at mile No. 12/0 near Amdapur and the Penganga at mile No. 5 at Deothana, where there are bridges. The following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it:—

(1) Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta national highway at Khamgaon.

(2) Railway line at Shegaon.

Chikhali-Mehkar-Malegaon Road: This state highway starts from Chikhali and runs from west to east with an inclina-tion to south in the midway and enters Akola district at mile 40/5. It covers a distance of 57 miles and 5 furlongs of which 40 miles and 5 furlongs are in Buldhana district. It runs in com-mon for a distance of 4.83 km with the Malkapur-Jalna-Sholapur road from Chikhali to Bhankhed. It traverses Chikhali and Mehkar tahsils.

It touches the following towns and villages in its stretch; Lavala (R.H.) 12 miles, Mehkar (R.H.) 28 miles 5 furlongs and Don-gaon (R.H.) 40 miles. The road leaves the district border at mile 40/5.

The road crosses a number of streams most of which are bridged. The important among the streams are, (i) Karadi nalla (22 mile) near Deulgaon, (ii) Penganga river (27/4 mile) near Mehkar and (iii) Mala river in mile 39/10.

The following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it:—

Mehkar-Lonar-Mantha Road: This state highway starts from Mehkar and running from north to south, enters Aurangabad district. It covers a total length of 21 miles out of which a length of 17 miles and 6 furlongs is covered in Buldhana district. It traverses the Mehkar tahsil. This road touches the town of Lonar (R.H.) (12 miles) and leaves the district border at mile 17/6.There is no major river crossing on this road.

The Deulgaon Raja-Lonar-Washim-Pusad-Mandvi road (S. H.) meets it at Sultanpur and runs in common with it from Sultanpur to Lonar.

Deulgaon Raja-Washim-Pusad-Mandvi Road: This state high-way starts from Deulgaon Raja and runs along the southern border of the district from west to east and enters Akola district. It covers a distance of 102 miles 4 furlongs out of which 44 miles 4 furlongs are in Buldhana district. It traverses the Chikhali and Mehkar tahsils.

This road touches the following towns and villages in its stretch, the mileage being indicated from Deulgaon Raja. Sind-khed (R.H.) mile 8/2, sultanpur mile 30/2 and Lonar (R.H.) mile 36/7.

The road crosses a number of streams and rivers out of which the following two are the important ones.

(1) Penganga River at Kingaon (mile 16/7); and

(2) Khadak-Purna river near Raheri (mile 18/2).

The bridges on the above rivers are under construction. The following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it:—

Edlabad-Akot-Walgaon Road: This road starts from the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta highway at Edlabad in Jalgaon district, enters Buldhana near Karanwadi at M. No. 30/0. It runs south-eastwards up to Khandvi, afterwhich it runs north-eastwards up to Jamod and thence towards the east up to district border where it leaves for Akola. It traverses only Jalgaon tahsil for a total length of 58.55 km of which the con-struction of a length of 37.92 km from Karanwadi to Jamod is completed and the remaining one from Jamod to district border is under construction (1973). It crosses the Asalgaon nallah at M. No. 41/0 near Asalgaon and the Wadi nallah at M. No. 44/0 near Jalgaon where there are bridges. It also crosses the Wan river on the district border near Warkhed.

The road touches Khandvi (M. No. 36/0), Asalgaon (M. No. 41/4), Jalgaon (M. No. 45/0) and Jamod (M. No. 52/4).

The length of 148 km from Khandvi to Jalgaon has a black-topped surface, that of 22.12 km from Karanwadi to Khandvi and from Jalgaon to Jamod has a water bound macadam surface. The rest of its portion is gravelled and is motorable in the fair weather season only.

Major District Roads.— Major District Roads in the district are: (1) Nandura-Motala road, (2) Waghzali-Dhamangaon road, (3) Malkapur-Bodwad road, (4) Malkapur-Pimpalgaon Devi road, (5) Lavala-Sakharkherda road, (6) Sakharkherda-Mandwa road, (7) Mehkar-Janefal road. (8) Sindkhed Raja-Jalna road, (9) Mehkar-Sonati road, (10) Nandura-Jalgaon road, (11) Shegaon-Wasali road, (12) Buldhana-Dhad road, (13) Dhad-Jamb road, (14) Dhad-Dhamangaon road, (15) Buldhana-Warwand road, (16) Khamgaon-Ambetakli road, (17) Jalamb-Matargaon-Bhenwad-Niwana road, (18) Ambetakali-Deulgaon-Sakharsha-Janephal road, (19) Datala-Dabhadi-Panhera-Padali road, (20) Deulgaon-Sakharkhed-Ghatbori-Isvi-Dongaon road, (21) Dongaon-Pangarkhed-Rajgad-Chikhalwad-Babulgaon road, (22) Pimpalgaon Devi-Betawad road, (23) She-gaon-Balapur road, (24) Chikhali-Jafarabad road, and (25) Amda-pur-Lavala road. The account of these roads is given below:—

Nandura-Motala Road: Formerly this was a section of the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta highway. However with the construc-tion of the Link between Nandura and Malkapur on the national highway it was classified as a M.D.R. It connects Motala on the Malkapur-Jalna-Tuljapur-Sholapur road with the above national highway. It thus forms a triangle with these two roads. It runs south-westwards up to Motala and covers a distance of 20 miles and 4 furlongs. It passes through Malkapur tahsil only. This road touches the following towns and villages in its stretch, viz., Mahalungi 6 miles, Shemba 15 miles, and Motala 20/4 miles.

This road crosses a number of streams and rivers which are bridged. The location of important rivers is as under:—

(1) Vishvaganga river in mile 15/8 (submersible bridge)

(2) Khaira nalla bridge in mile 12/5 (submersible)

(3) Mahalungi nalla in mile 7/6.

The following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it: —

Waghzali-Dhamangaon Road: The road takes off from mile No. 18/6 of Malkapur-Jalna-Sholapur state highway and runs to-wards the west for a length of 12 miles and 1 furlong (19.52 km). There is one important bridge on the river Nalganga near Rohin-khed village in mile No. 5/6 from the junction. This road serves as a link between Buldhana and Jalgaon districts, as the border of Jalgaon district is only 5 km away from the termination point of this road. This length of 5 km is also under construction.

Malkapur-Bodwad Road: The road takes off at mile ¹/6 of the Malkapur-Jalna-Sholapur state highway and runs westwards. A bridge has been constructed over the Nalganga river at mile 0/3 of this road. The road is fully bridged except the bridge mentioned above.

The total length of this road is 6 miles (9.66 km) which is fully metalled.

Malkapur-Pimpalgaon Devi Road: This road takes off from mile No. 2/4 of Malkapur-Bodwad road and runs towards south for a length of 12 miles 3 furlongs (19.90 km). The road is fully metalled and ends at village Pimpalgaon Devi which is at a distance of 2 miles 4 furlongs from the Jalgaon district border. The road is newly opened for traffic and the construction of the parts of road from Pimpalgaon Devi to Bodwad is under progress.

Lavhala-Sakharkherda Road: With a length of five miles and three furlongs, this fully bridged and metalled road starts from mile No. 56/8 of Chikhali-Mehkar state highway. There is only one major bridge in mile No. 46. This road joins the Sakhar-kherda-Mandva road.

Sakharkherda-Mandwa Road: This road covers a distance of 13 miles and a furlong, and is metalled throughout its length. In the rainy season however traffic is interrupted due to the lack of bridges. It was constructed as a part of the scarcity relief measures and was included in the Second Five-Year Plan afterwards.

Mehkar-Janephal Road: This road having a length of 10 miles and 6 furlongs is partly bridged and fully metalled. It starts from mile No. 71/3 of the Chikhali-Mehkar state highway. It was constructed as a part of the relief measures, and was included in the Second Five-Year Plan, and was extended to connect with Amdapur-Janephal road.

Sindkhed Raja-Jalna Road: Having a length of 5 miles (8 km) upto the district border, the road was an old dak line from Jalna to Nagpur. A part of the road is fully bridged at present. The road will serve as the shortest route from Jalna to Nagpur via Sindkhed Raja, Sultanpur and Mehkar, after completion of the proposed links.

Mehkar-Sonali Road: The length of this road is 6 miles and 1 furlong (9.86 km). The work on this road was included in the Second Five-Year Plan and completed as a village road. Now it is upgraded as a major district road. There is a proposal to connect it to Risod in Akola district.

Nandura-Jalgaon Road: It forms a link road from Jalgaon, a tahsil place, to the Bombay-Nagpur national highway at Nandura and runs towards north. It is fully bridged and black-topped. There is a railway crossing near Nandura in mile No. 1/2 of the road. There is a submersible major bridge on Purna river in mile No. 8/5 (12 km). This road meets the Jalgaon-Warwat-Bakal road.

Shegaon-Wasali: It takes off from Shegaon in mile 1 fur-longs 6 towards Wasali and runs northwards to enter Madhya Pradesh. It is fully bridged. There is a submersible bridge in mile No. 6/4 on a small river, and one major bridge on the Purna river in mile No. 10/3 of this road. The total length of this road is 7 miles (43.45 km) of which a length of 19 km is black-topped the rest being metalled.

Buldhana-Dhad Road: This road takes off from mile 1 of Buldhana-Ajantha state highway and has a length of 16 miles. This is a metalled road and partly black-topped. This road meets the Dhad-Jamb road which is a major district road and also the Bhokardan-Sillod road.

Dhad-Jamb Road: The road starts from Dhad and has a length of 8 miles (13 km) upto the district border. It is a fully metalled road. There is only one major bridge in miles 4 furlongs 5 on Dhamana river near Mhasala. This road meets the Jamb-Bhokardan road.

Dhad-Dhamangaon Road: This road starts from Dhad and ends at Dhamangaon and has a length of 4 miles 4 furlongs (7 km) up to the district border. It traverses only Chikhali tahsil and is fully metalled.

Buldhana-Warwand Road: This road takes off; from the Malkapur-Jalna-Sholapur state highway in mile 29/4 and pro-ceeds towards Warwand. It has a length of 6 miles (9.65 km). It crosses the Warwand-Khamgaon road which is under construction and the Warwand-Undri road which is of other district road standard. The road is fully metalled.

Khamgaon-Ambetakali Road: This road starts from Kham-gaon, runs in common for a length of 6.4 km with the Bombay-Nagpur-Calcutta national highway upto Tembhurni, and runs in south-east direction upto Ambetakali. It traverses Khamgaon tahsil for a total length of 20.92 km, which is water bound macadam.

Jalamb-Matargaon-Bhenwad-Niwana Road: This road starts from Jalamb railway station and runs towards the north upto Niwana on the Jalgaon-Warwat road. It traverses Khamgaon and Jalgaon tahsils for a total length of 19.91 km and has a water bound macadam surface.

Ambetakali Deulgaon-Sakharsha-Janefal Road: This road Starts from Ambetakali in Khamgaon tahsil, runs towards the south upto Deulgaon-Sakharsha and thence towards the south-east upto Janefal where it meets the Amdapur-Janefal road and the Mehkar-Janefal road. It traverses Khamgaon and Mehkar tahsils for a total length of 26.35 km and has a water bound macadam surface.

Datala-Dabhadi-Panhera-Padali Road : There are two sections of this road, viz., from Datala to Dabhadi and from Panhera to Padali. The total length of these two sections is 25.10 km and they have a water bound macadam surface. The missing link between the two sections is under construction.

Deulgaon-Sakharsha-Ghatbori-Isvi-Dongaon Road: This road starts from Deulgaon-Sakharsha and runs towards the south upto Ghatbori, after which it runs towards the south-east upto Kanak Bk. and thence towards the south-west upto Dongaon where it meets the Chikhali-Mehkar-Malegaon road. This road runs parallel to the district border. The total length of this road is 30.60 km. of which a length of 18.51 km is of a major district road standard and has a water bound macadam surface. It touches Ghatbori, Isvi. Januna. Kanak 13k., Pangarkhed, Gondgaon and Dongaon.

Dongaon-Pangarkhed-Babulgaon up to District Border Road: This road starts from Dongaon, runs in common with the Deul-gaon-Sakharsha-Ghatbori-Isvi-Dongaon road upto Pangarkhed and runs towards the north upto district border. It traverses only Mehkar tahsil for a length of 4.43 km, which has a water bound macadam surface.

Pimpalgaon Devi up to District Border Road : This road starts from Pimpalgaon Devi in Malkapur tahsil and runs towards the west upto district border for a length of 3.82 km of which only the length of 2 km is completed and has a water bound macadam surface.

Shegaon-Balapur Road : This road starts from Shegaon in Khamgaon tahsil and runs towards the south-east upto Balapur in Akola district. Its length in the district is 10.08 km and has a gravelled surface. It touches Takli, Warkhed and Jaola.

Chikhali-Jafjerabad Road: This road takes off from Malkapur-Jalna-Tuljapur-Sholapur road near Chikhali and runs towards the north-west till it leaves for Aurangabad district. It traverses Chikhali tahsil for a length of 8.70 km, which has a water bound macadam surface.

Amdapur-Lavhala Road: This road starts from the Chikhali-Khamgaon-Deori road at Amdapur and runs towards the west upto Lavhala, where it meets the Chikhali-Mehkar-Malegaon road. It crosses the Penganga river near Nalgaon Bk., where there is a bridge across the river. It touches Mangrul Navghare, Nalgaon, Dongargaon, Loni and Lavhala. The road traverses Chikhali and Mehkar tahsils for a total length of 18.10 km. It has a water bound macadam surface which is motorable throughout the year.

Other District Roads.— There are sixteen other district roads in the district (as on 31st March 1973). They are: (1) Amdapur-Janefal road, (2) Sakarkherda-Mera-Antri road, (3) Jalgaon-Warwat Bakal road, (4) Malegaon-Warwat Bakal road, (5) Khamgaon-Pimpalgaon Raja road. (6) Bavanbir-Sonala road, (7) Borgaon-Kakade-Eklara road, (8) Dudha-Hatni road, (9) Buldhana-Undri road, (10) Deulgaon-Sakharsha-Ghatbori-Iswi-Dongargaon road (section first), (11) Buldhana Circular road, (12) Umali-Jaola Bazar road, (13) Buldhana-Sagwan road. (14) Malgi-Isrul road (section first), (15) Jalgaon-Daryapur-Burhanpnr road, (16) Khamgaon-Warwand road (section 1st to VIIth).

The account of these roads is given below:—

Amdapur-Janefal Road: Having a length of 11 miles 2 furlongs, it is fully metalled and passes through Khamgaon, a big cotton market in the district. This road runs from south to east in the district. The road is motorable throughout the year. It crosses a number of streams and rivers in its stretch. The road touches the following villages during its course in the district, viz., Pimpalkhed, Aboli, Dhanora, Hiwra, and Mudepal.

Sakharkherda-Mera-Antri Road: This road with a length of 7 miles 4 furlongs is partly bridged and fully metalled. It is connected with Chikhali-Deulgaon Raja road. In its first stretch this road runs east to west up to Mera Bk., and afterwards it runs west-northwards. This road crosses many small streams and rivers during its course.

Jalgaon-Warwat Bakal Road: Jalgaon-Warwat Bakal road forms a link road from Jalgaon to Warwat Bakal and has a length of 12 miles 4 furlongs. It touches the Shegaon-Wasali M.D.R.[Major District Road.] in 16 miles 2 furlongs. It runs towards west and is unbridged. It is however fully metalled. This road crosses many small streams in its stretch.

Malegaon-Warwat Bakal Road: It forms a link road between Warwat Bakal and Malegaon. It is unbridged but fully metalled and covers a distance of 3 miles and 4 furlongs.

Khamgaon-Pimpalgaon Raja Road: The length of this road is 7 miles and 4 furlongs. It runs east-westwards in the district. It is unbridged but fully metalled.

Bavanbir-Sonala Road: The length of this road is 3 miles and 5 furlongs. It starts from Bavanhir and runs towards the northeast direction to meet the state highway at Sonala. It is unbridged but fully metalled throughout its length.

Borgaon-Kakade-Eklara Road: This road starts from Borgaon to Eklara having a length of 6 miles and 1 furlong. It crosses many small streams during its short course, but is metalled throughout its length.

Dudha-Hatni Road: This road starts from Dudha on Buldhana-Dhad major district road in mile No. 11 and meets the Buldhana-Chikhali state highway in mile No. 10 at village Hatni. It covers a distance of 14 miles and 2 furlongs. This road is completely metalled and motorable during all seasons.

Buldhana-Undri Road : This road starts from Buldhana on the Malkapur-Jalna-Tuljapur-Sholapur road and runs towards the east upto Undri on the Chikhali-Khamgaon-Deori road. A length of 9.6 km from Buldhana to Warwand is of a major district road standard and the rest from Warwand to Undri (24.74 km) is of an other district road standard. It has a water bound macadam surface.

Deulgaon-Sakharsha-Ghatbori-Iswi-Dongaon Road: It stars from Deulgaon Sakharsha and runs towards the south upto Don-gaon. The total length of this road is 30.60 km of which a length of 18.21 km is of a major district road standard and the remaining length of 12.47 km is of an other district road standard, and has a water bound macadam surface.

Buldhana Circular Road : This road is a connecting link between Ajantha-Buldhana road and the Malkapur-Jalna-Tuljapur-Sholapur road. It runs in circular direction by south of the town. Its length is 2.41 km and is water bound macadam.

Umali-Jawala Bazar Road : This road starts from Umali on Datala-Umali road and runs towards the south-east upto Jawala Bazar for a total length of 9 km which has a water bound macadam surface. This road is in Malkapur tahsil.

Buldhana-Sagwan Road: It emanates from the Buldhana-Dhad road and runs towards the south upto Sagwan for a length of 1.61 km.It has a water bound macadam surface.

Malgi-Isrul Road: It starts from the Malkapur-Jalna-Tuljapur-Sholapur road at Malgi and runs towards the south parallel to the district border upto Isrul. It touches Pimpalwadi, Selgaon and Mangrul. It traverses only Chikhali tahsil for a total length of 10.00 km and has a water bound macadam surface.

Jalgaon-Daryapur-Burhanpur Road: It starts from Jalgaon on the Edlabad-Akot-Walgaon road and runs towards the north for a total length of 8.00 km after which it leaves for Daryapur in Nimar district of Madhya Pradesh. It touches Arsulpur, Rajura Bk., Garpeth and Umapur. The entire length of this road has a gravelled surface and is motorable in the fair weather season only.

Khamgaon-Warwand Road: This road starts from Khamgaon and runs towards the south-west upto Warwand in Chikhali tahsil. It traverses Khamgaon and Chikhali tahsils for a total length of 15.50 km and touches Garamgaon, Rohana, Deothana, Barola, Deohari and Warwand in its stretch. The entire length of this road has a water bound macadam surface.

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