A History of Assam c23.58

c23.58

Steady improvement in communications. When Mill visited Assam in 1853, carts and carriages were unknown, and the roads were few and bad. The two great trunk roads, which now run east and west along both banks of the Brahmaputra, had not at that time been commenced, and there were practically no roads at all in Sylhet and Cachar. In recent times great progress has been made. A regular Public Works Department was established in the year 1868; and in 1880 Local Boards were created for the management of affairs of local interest, and were placed in charge of all roads of purely local importance. To provide the funds for their requirements they were given half the proceeds of a local rate of one-sixteenth the annual value of all landed property, the levy of which was authorized by Regulation III of 1879, together with a grant from provincial revenues and the receipts from pounds and ferries. At the present time there are in the Province 5,915 miles of road fit for vehicular traffic. There are also 2,283 miles of bridle-paths.