COMMUNICATIONS

INTRODUCTION.

Roads in Old Times.

IN [Compiled from the account of roads in the Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency, Vol. XIX, 1885, pages 194 to 200.] THE FIRST HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY, there were two principal routes above the Sahyadris. First, the Poona-Kolhapur and Karnatak route ran by the little Bor pass in Poona, the Salpa pass at the north-east of Goregaon, the Nhavi pass south-east of Koregaon and then by the line of the present Satara-Tasgaon road. The other main line was the one east to Pandharpur by the Kaledhon pass.

In 1826 [Clunes' Itinerary, 31-37, 44-46, 64-68.] ten routes of traffic ran through the Satara district. Of these ten routes, two ran north and south from Poona to Belgaum, two to north-east from Satara to Sirur in Poona and Ahmadnagar, two to east from Satara to Sholapur, two to south-west from Karad, one to Rajapur and the other to Malvan in Ratnagiri, and two ran west to Dapoli in Ratnagiri. Of the two routes which ran south from Poona to Belgaum through Satara, one route about 241 miles long, went by the Bor pass through Koregaon, and the other route, about 213 miles long, crossed the Nira near Shirwal at 30 miles south of Poona and 34 miles, north of Satara, and passed by the Khambatki pass through Satara, Karad and Islampur. Of the two routes which ran north-east from Satara, one covered a length of 87 miles to Sirur, and the other ran 120 miles to Ahmadnagar- For 34 miles from Satara to Shirwal both these routes followed the Poona-Belgaum route by the Khambatki pass. Of the two routes which ran east from Satara to Sholapur by Pandharpur. one route, about 131 miles long, went to Triputi, Vishapur and Pingli, the other route, about 148 miles long, passed by Rahimatpur, Pusesavali, Mayani and Kaledhon pass. Of the two routes which ran south-west from Karad, one route, about 117 miles long, passed by the Anaskura pass to Rajapur, and the other route, about 119 miles long, passed by Kolhapur and the Phonda pass to Malvan.

The first made road was from Poona to Satara by the Salpa pass. In 1841 the whole of this road was made fit for carts. In 1848, except along the Old Poona and Satara-Mahabaleshwar made roads, the traffic went by pack bullocks. The Poona-Belgaum and the Satara-Kolhapur roads were both passable to carts.

By 1885 Satara was well provided with roads. In 1883 the district had 51 routes of roads running over a stretch of 956 miles. Of these, 206 miles were metalled and 166 miles were murumed (i.e. laid with crumbly trap). Of these, seven routes running over 372 miles were maintained out of provincial revenues, and were under the charge of the Public Works Department. The remaining 44 routes running over 583 miles were maintained from local funds. Of the 44 routes maintained from local funds, three were first class routes running over 89 miles, 13 were second class routes running over 204 miles and 28 were third class routes of 290 miles length.

The state of transport and communications by the end of the last century was far better in Satara district [Satara district was then comprised of the present Satara district and some talukas of Sangli.] than in most of the other districts in the Bombay Presidency. Of the fifty-one routes thirteen viz., the Poona-Belgaum, Satara-Lonand-Poona, Satara-Tasgaon and Karad-Tasgaon roads which ran North and South, and the Varandha-Dharampuri, Surul-Mahabaleshwar, Wai-Adarki, Satara-Mahabale-shwar, Satara-Pandharpur, Malharpeth-Pandharpur, Karad-Nagaji, Karad-Kumbharli and Peth-Sangli roads, which ran east and west, were important. The Poona-Belgaum road was the chief line of traffic and was metalled and bridged throughout. The Satara-Lonand road was murumed and was bridged throughout except on the Vasna river. This road was shaded by magnificent avenues of tamarind and fig trees. The Satara-Tasgaon second class road was not bridged throughout; at Dhamner in Koregaon the Krishna was crossed by a ferry in the rains. The Karad-Tasgaon road was murumed.

Besides the chief roads, there were many bullock-cart tracks and passes.

Since the Road Development Programme of 1946 sponsored by the State Government, there has been considerable progress as regards road development in this district. The highways were improved upon and many a bridge was constructed. By March 1958, the total mileage of major roads was 1,282, of which 723 miles were metalled and 559 un-metalled. [Handbook of Basic Statistics, Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Maharashtra] State The centres of commerce and trade, viz., Karad, Satara, Koregaon, Lonand, Wai, Phaltan are all served by highways. This district enjoys the advantage of being connected by various routes to Ratnagiri, Kolaba, Thana, Poona, Bombay, Sangli and Sholapur districts. The Poona-Bangalore highway links this district to Belgaum, Hubli and Bangalore.

The Poona-Bangalore railway line passes north to south through the centre of the district and traverses the Phaltan, Koregaon and Karad talukas. Its total length in this district is about 74 miles [Handbook of Basic Statistics, Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Maharashtra State.]

The rivers in this district are not navigable and as such, water transport is not of any material significance. This district is not served by any aerodrome. In the paragraphs which follow is given a detailed picture of various modes of transport and communications in this district.

Roads are classified, according to their importance, into five categories, viz., (i) National Highways, (ii) State Highways, (iii) Major District Roads, (iv) Other District Roads and (v) Village Roads.

As facility of transport is one of the determinants of the degree of economic progress of a region, the degree of road development assumes a special importance. The following statement indicates mileage of the various categories of roads in Satara district.

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