Public Administration in Ancient India c20.41

c20.41

The means of communication received considerable attention from the rulers. Roads were constructed in all towns and villages. Chānakya says that each city should have six main roads—three running from east to west, and three from north to south. Besides these principal roads, which were to be 32 cubits wide, there were many other roads which were less broad. There were also roads which connected the different parts of the country with the capital and with one another. The main roads were called King's ways (Rāja-mārga), and the other roads were known as mārgas, vīthīs, or padyas.² Pillars were set up on the main roads to mark distances and to show the by-roads.³ Trees were planted along the roads and, for convenience of travellers, rest houses (pāntha-śālās) were erected at suitable places.⁴