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PLACES
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DHARAMTAR OR SABAJ (SHAHABAJ)
Dharamatar or Sabaj, (T. Alibag, 18°40' N, 73°00' E; p. 1,601)
is a port on the right bank of the Amba river, about ten miles
from its mouth and thirteen miles east of Alibag. [Dharamatar is so called from the charity-ferry, or dharamtar that was established here free of charge by a minister of one of the Angres. The ferry continued
to ply between Dharamatar and Nagothana to the end of 1881. See above Chapter
'Communications'. Mr. Sinclair suggests that the word Sabaj is a corruption of Saha
Buruj or the King's Fort.] The
Dharamatar pier was built in 1868 at a cost of Rs. 16,530, chiefly
from income-tax balances. This landing place at Dharamatar is no
longer in use due to silting of sand. A new pier was constructed
on the Pen side as far back as 1926. As far as Dharamatar pier the
creek is at all times navigable to boats of about 60 tons (250,
khandis). Above Dharamatar navigation is difficult and at low;
tides impossible. At ordinary high tides, boats of fifteen tons
(60 khondis), and, at spring tides, boats of twenty-five tons (100
Khandis) can pass to Nagothna, fourteen miles south. But the
passage almost always takes even ordinary-sized (7½-10 tons)
vessels two tides. The ferry steamers ply daily-from Bombay to
Dharamtar pier on Pen side. From this a road leads west thirteen
miles to Alibag. Across the ferry to the east is the state highway
road by Nagothna fifty-six miles to Mahabalesvar. There is also
an excellent road twenty-six miles east to Khopoli at the foot of the
Bor pass.
With the rising cliffs of Sahyadri on one side and piercing ends
of' creeks on the other, the road-building in the strip shaped
Kolaba district has become extremely difficult. To make any
road motorable in all seasons, therefore, bridge-building assumes
utmost importance.
Bridge on river Amba built in 1958, at Dharamatar links the south-west part of the Kolaba district with the rest. Formerly, during rainy season in the absence of this bridge people almost lost contact with the other parts. It is 1,041 feet long, 24 feet broad and at its highest is 33 feet above the ground level. The cost of construction was about Rs. 36,25,000.
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