COMMUNICATIONS

ROADS

Roads are classified according to their importance, into four categories, viz., (1) National Highways, (2) State Highways. (3) Major District Roads and (4) Other District Roads.

The Bombay-Poona road is the only National Highway passing through Kolaba district. The State Highways passing through this district are:(i) Bombay-Konkan-Goa road, (ii) Alibag-Dharamtar-Khopoli road, (iii) Wakan-Pali-Khopoli road, (iv) Mahad-Pandharpur road and (v) Surul-Mahabaleshwar-Poladpur road. In the following statement is given the description of the roads passing through Kolaba district.

The statement below gives the statistics of the highways and major roads in this district.

TABLE No. 1

HIGHWAYS AND MAJOR DISTRICT ROADS IN KOLABA DISTRICT.

*This is exclusive of length common with Bombay-Poona Road.

National Highway.

Bombay-Poona Road.

The Bombay-Poona road is the only National Highway passing through Kolaba. It starts from Bombay and runs through the Thana district towards the east to enter Panvel taluka of Kolaba district at mile 34. In its west to east course in the district it traverses the Panvel and Khalapur talukas and is 32 miles in length. Its stretch in the district ends at mile 66 near Khopoli to ascend on the Bor Ghat in Poona district.

The highway is of significance, as it serves the main link between Bombay, Poona, the up-ghat countryside and almost the entire Deccan. Thousands of heavy vehicles ply on this road. The Bombay-Konkan-Goa State Highway emanates from it at mile 45/2, which connects it with Kolaba and Ratnagiri districts, Goa and Cape Camorin. The inland traffic of Konkan with Bombay is carried mainly on this highway. The proposed Diva-Dasgaon railway route will intercede this highway at mile 45/3.

In its stretch in Kolaba it touches the following places at the respective miles shown below:—

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

The entire length of this highway is of cement concrete surface and is motorable throughout the year.

State Highways.

Bombay-Konkan-Goa Road.

This highway starts from Bombay and runs through Thana district in common with the Bombay-Poona National Highway. It takes off from mile 45 of Bombay-Poona road near Palaspe and runs to the south up to the border of Kolaba district to enter Ratnagiri district near Kashedi at mile 140/7. Formerly it was called West Coast Road of Major District Road standard. The total length of this road in Kolaba district is 95 miles and 6 furlongs, i.e., from mile 45/1 to 140/7. It passes through Panvel, Pen, Roha, Mangaon, Mahad and Poladpur talukas.

It touches the following places:—

The following roads cither lake off from it or are crossed by it:—

The highway has a cement concrete surface and is motorable throughout the year.

Alibag-Khopoli Road.

The Alihag-Khopoli road is a State Highway starting from Alibag. It runs west to east and joins the Bombay-Poona Road. National Highway at mile 36/6. Its total length [It is inclusive of its common length with Bombay-Poona Road, viz., from Sheel phata to Khopoli.] is 37 miles. It traverses the Alibag, Pen and Khalapur talukas.

In its stretch it touches Pen at mile 19, Gagode at mile 26 and Shiradi at mile 29. This highway crosses Dharamtar creek at mile 14 over a well built bridge and another bridge near Pen on the Bhogeshwari river at mile 20.

Going from west to east the following roads either take off from it or are crossed by it:—

Not far from the course of this highway there are rest houses at Alibag (Traveller's Bungalow), Pen (Inspection Bungalow) and Shiravali (Traveller's Bungalow).

This highway has an asphalted surface and is motorable through out the year.

Mahad-Pandharpur Road.

This highway was formerly a Major District Road and had a water bound macadam surface. It starts from Mahad at mile 125/6 of the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road and runs south, a distance of 2 miles and 7 furlongs common with the same. It then takes a turn towards the eastern border of the district and enters Poona district at mile 16/4. After leaving Kolaba district border it traverses the Poona and Satara districts and terminates at Pandharpur in Sholapur district. Length of this road in Kolaba district, excluding the length of 2 miles and 7 furlongs common with the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road, is 13 miles and 5 furlongs. Surface of this road for 3 miles and 1 furlong is asphalted and the rest is water bound macadam.

Traffic on this highway is subject to obstructions during heavy floods.

Surul-Mahabaleshwar-Poladpur Road.

This highway starts from Surul on Poona-Bangalore National Highway in Satara district and runs in the western direction to enter Poladpur peta of Kolaba at mile 37. In its stretch in Satara it touches Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar and Pratapgad. This road meets the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road at mile 133/8. The length of this road in Kolaba district is 15 miles. It passes only through the Poladpur peta. The length of 5 1/2 miles has a water bound macadam surface and of 9 1/2 miles is asphalted. It is motorable throughout the year.

Wakan-Pali-Khopoli Road.

Formerly this was a Major District Road. It is now up-graded to the standard of a State Highway.

This road starts from Wakan at mile 81/4 of the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road and runs in the north-eastern direction up to Pedli and then to the north until it joins Alibag-Khopoli road at mile 34/1 of the latter. It then runs in common with the Alibag-Khopoli road up to Khopoli, where it terminates. This road traverses only Sudhagad mahal. Its length up to the junction of Alibag-Khopoli road is 25 miles and 6 furlongs.

It touches Pali at mile 4/7, Nanosa at mile 13 and Jambhulpada at mile 21.

The surface of this road is water bound macadam. Improvement of the same is, however, in progress. It is motorable throughout the year.

Major District Roads.

Uran-Panvel Road.

The Uran-Panvel road starts from Uran and runs towards the north-east through Uran and Panvel talukas to join the Bombay- Poona road at mile 43/5 near Panvel. The total length of this road is 15 miles and has a water bound macadam surface.

It touches Gavan at mile 9/2 and Owale at mile 11/4. The following roads take off from it: —

This road is motorable throughout the year.

Shriwardhan-Mahad-Ratnagiri Road

The road starts from Shriwardhan and runs to the east to meet Bombay-Konkan Goa road at mile No. 110 at Lonera. The further  length up to the southern boundary of the district is in common with the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road. After leaving the southern boundary of this district it leads to Ratnagiri. The length of the road from Shriwardhan to Lonera, the place where it joins the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road, is 31 miles.

It touches Mhasla at mile 11, Khamgaon at mile 22 and Goregaon at mile 29. In its stretch up to Lonera it traverses Shriwardhan and Mhasla mahals. There are rest houses located at Mhasla and Khamgaon.

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

The road is motorable throughout the year. With completion of the bridge over the Goregaon creek, through traffic over this road has been highly benefited.

Alibag-Rewas Road.

This road starts from Alibag, runs to the north up to Mandva and takes a bulge to the east up to Rewas where it terminates and

joins Alibag to the Dharamtar creek. Out of the total length of 14 miles and 6 furlongs, a length of 12 miles is asphalted and the remaining portion is water bound macadam. Its length from mile 11/4 to mile 13 runs along the sea coast. It is, therefore, often flooded with sea water at high tides.

It touches the following villages: —

The Alibag-Khopoli road emanates from this road at its mile No. 0/3.

This is a fully bridged road with bridges at: (i) mile ^1/8 on the Siddheshwar river, (ii) Chondhi village on the Chondhi river at mile 6/1, and (iii) Saral on the Saral creek at mile 11/8.

It is motorable throughout the year.

Rajpuri-Murud- Salav Road

This road starts from Rajpuri on the Rajpuri creek, takes a bulge in the south-east and then runs towards the north along the sea coast up to Salav on the Revdanda creek. Its total length is 24 miles. It traverses the Murud mahal.

This road touches the following important villages in its stretch: —

It has a metalled surface and is motorable throughout the year except during heavy rains.

Roha- Nagothana Road.

This road starts from Roha and runs northward up to Nagothana, a distance of 9 miles and 4 furlongs. In its stretch there is a bridge at Medha. It has a water bound macadam surface and is motorable throughout the year.

Roha-Kolad Road.

Starting from Roha, this road runs in the south-east direction to join the Bombay-Konkan-Goa road near Kolad. Its length is 7 miles and 2 furlongs and is water bound macadam. It is motorable throughout the year.

Dighi-Shriwardhan Road.

The road starts from Dighi on the Rajpuri creek and runs to the south up to Shriwardhan. Total length of the road is 20 miles. It traverses only the Shriwardhan mahal. The road touches the following places in its stretch:—

Other District Roads.

The Wadawali-Mhasla road (O. D. R.) emanates from this road  at Wadawali.

This road is motorable throughout the year

The following statement gives details of 'Other District Roads' in the district:—

TABLE No. 2

' OTHER DISTRICT ROADS ' IN THE VARIOUS TALUKAS IN KOLABA DISTRICT.

TABLE No. 2—contd.

' OTHER DISTRICT ROADS ' IN THE VARIOUS TALUKAS IN KOLABA DISTRICT.

Road Development in Five-Year Plans.

Road Development The road development programme under the First Five-Year in Five-Year Plans. plan followed the principle that roads which assist production were to be given a priority, while as regards village roads the broad aim was to connect more important villages with marketing and district centres. The programme initially contemplated construction and improvement of metalled and unmetalled roads and cement concreting of important roads having heavy vehicular traffic. The following roads were undertaken in this district in the First Plan: —

The road development programme under the Second Plan was, however, more far-reaching and envisaged a total outlay of about Rs. 28.4 lakhs. The following statement enumerates the works carried out by the end of the Second Five-Year Plan:—

TABLE No. 3

ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME UNDER SECOND FIVE-YEAR PLAN IN KOLABA DISTRICT.

Being an important road and Government of India agreed to develop the West Coast road to the standard of an asphalted and fully-bridged road. The length of the road in Kolaba is 95 miles and 6 furlongs, out of which 28 miles and 4 furlongs were completed in the First Plan period at a cost of Rs. 24.25 lakhs. The remaining length was proposed to be completed by the end of the Second Plan at a cost of Rs. 43.82 lakhs. During the First Plan period roads to the extent of 122 miles were constructed by the District Local Board.

Construction of Bridges and Causeways.

During the First Plan bridges were constructed over the Pali-Khopoli road, Diversion road near Pen and the Mahad-Pandharpur road on the Savitri river. In addition bridges were constructed at Dharamtar, Jambhulpada and Pali. The completion of the bridge across the Dharamtar creek, which was built at a cost of Rs. 32.50 lakhs, marked the fulfilment of a long felt need of the district. The bridge over the Goregaon creek has added to the transport facilities in the district.

Ports and Harbours.

Kolaba district covers about 90 miles of the coastal line. As  such port development might be calculated to improve the state  of transport.

Accordingly, landing facilities at Shriwardhan were proposed to be improved. The Murud port is furnished with lights and storm-warning signals. The Revdanda Port is provided with cargo jetty, and Rewas with facilities for dredging.

Municipal Roads.

The municipalities in Kolaba have a meagre mileage of roads under their jurisdiction. Very few of the roads are asphalted, some are metalled, while a majority of them are unmetalled and become unserviceable in the rainy season. Actually in case of many of the roads it will be a misnomer to call them roads due to their extreme narrowness and curvings. The construction of roads is undertaken without any heed to the needs of town planning. The reason for such a state of affairs may be traced to the smaller size of the towns and paucity of funds with the municipal administration. There are a few good made roads in Panvel, Mahad, Alibag and Pen. Roads at the Matheran hill station are aesthetically built and pass through the thick forests and ever-green vegetation. They lead to the various points on the hill station. They present a picture of serpentine passes weeding their way over the edges of glorious mountain ranges. Automobiles and animal-drawn vehicles are prohibited at this hill station.

The statistics of road mileage as in 1958-59 were as under:—

•Length of 4 furlongs was cement concrete in 1958.

†Cement concrete road was approximately 2 furlongs in 1958.

‡Length of 7 furlongs was cement concrete in 1959.

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