Page:Vizagapatam.djvu/160

VIZAGAPATAM. Agent at Koraput, had constructed the ghát (which still sometimes goes by his name, but is otherwise known as the Tádivalasa ghát) from Pottangi to Tádivalasa on the plains. This was afterwards greatly improved, and it is still maintained and much used by pack-bullock caravans because the pasture and water on it are better than on the Ittikavalasa-Sunki-Pottangi road.

At the Jeypore end, Lieutenant Smith began by cutting the ghát from Koraput to Borigumma which is now known as the Ránigedda ghát and is a great favourite with cartmen going to Naurangpur and Bastar. It was not until later that Mr. Turner made a trace down to Jeypore. By 1874 carts, which a few years before had been unknown in any part of this country, could get (with difficulty) right through from Sálúr to Jeypore. In the next year the existing Pottangi ghát, which crosses the old Páchipenta route at several points, was begun under the care of Mr. Nordmann of the Public Works department. The difficulties were great: the upper staff were constantly down with malaria, and labour was scarce and shy. Colonel Sankey, the Chief Engineer, visited the work in 1880 (a bluff on it still bears his name) and stirred up those responsible; but it was not until 1883 that a carriage could be driven into sunki, and even this result was due to special efforts made because it was thought that the Governor was coming to see the road. It was finished however in 1884 (the Sunki bridge was not completed until later), and the traffic which at once swarmed up and down it surpassed the highest expectations which had been formed, the cartmen travelling from the coast as far inland as Kótapád in search of grain. The 22 miles had cost Rs. 4,65,000, or Rs. 21,200 a mile, and the road was soon afterwards handed over to the Public Works department, which now maintains the 60 miles to Jeypore at a cost of Rs. 24,000 annually. Labour is scarce, the road is so narrow that the carts follow one another and wear deep ruts, the traffic is enormous (1,200 carts a day often pass a given point in 24 hours in the dry season) and the upkeep of the road is consequently not a simple matter.

In April 1886 Mr. H. D. Taylor, then in charge of the Jeypore estate, began the construction of a proper road on from Pottangi to Koraput, and next year the existing ghát thence to Jeypore (called at first 'the Jubilee ghát' because the Mahárája of Jeypore had contributed towards it in honour of the late Queen- Empress' Jubilee) was put in hand by him. The earth-work was completed in 1889 (one piece of blasting cost Rs. 5,000) and the 140