Page:Vizagapatam.djvu/161

MEANS OP COMMUNICATION. metalling- in 1892. The Pottangi-Koraput section was completed by the Public Works department in 1895, at a cost of Rs. 3,08,000, except the iron girder bridge over the Kerandi river. This last was built on dry land on a narrow neck separating two points in the river's course and then a channel was dug to lead the river under it.

Except this one through line (and its branches, already mentioned, from Sembliguda to Lakshmipur and Nandapuram, and that from Koraput to Lakshmipur, referred to below) there are no roads on the 3,000 feet plateau which are practicable for carts.

In the Jeypore plateau, however, which is 1,000 feet lower, there are several. The chief of these (see the map) is that which runs from Jeypore through Borigumma and Kótapád to the Bastar State and its capital Jagdalpur. From the latter place a good road leads to Raipur, which thus has through communication with the sea. From Borigumma this line goes on, over the Indrávati to Naurangpur, whence it is now being carried on to Pappadahandi. At this place it bifurcates, a rough track leading northwards through Dabugám, Bijápur and Umarkót to Raigarh; and a better road, which is now being further improved, passing through Maidalpur to the Kálahandi boundary, where it joins the road to Bhavánipatnam, the capital of that State.

From Jeypore an inferior road runs southwards, over the Koláb (which badly needs bridging) to Boipariguda (whence a track leads off to Rámagiri) and Kollar, down a ghát to Góvindupalle, and thence to Malkanagiri. Up to this last place it is just practicable for carts, but thereafter it degenerates into a rough track running on to Motu, at the junction of the Saveri and the Siléru rivers. Returning again to the plains and going northwards from Sálúr, one finds no ghát up to the plateau until Párvatípur is reached. From this place a road (made in 1895-96 at a cost of Rs. 13,500 to replace the old track, which crossed the Janjhávati no less than 21 times) runs westwards through Álamanda and Bandigám to Náráyanapatnam (a very malarious spot), whence a ghát is being made up the comparatively easy incline which leads to Lakshniipur on the 3,000 feet plateau. This latter place is already connected (see above) with Koraput by a road practicable for carts and it is thought that when the railway is opened to Párvatípur much of the produce of the Jeypore level will use this route to reach it. 141