VIZAGAPATAM.
The latter of these places is at present frequently cut off from Pálkonda by the Nágávali, which is a perennial stream carrying an immense body of water during floods, but a bridge is now to be built on top of the anicut which is being constructed over the river (see p. 106) and the two roads leading from Párvatípur to Pálkonda and to Gunupur respectively will be diverted and taken over this.
The roads in the Agency, with the single exception of that from Ittikavalasa to Jeypore, have all been made by the agency officers without professional assistance. For many years after the Jeypore estate was first entered by Government officers in 1863 (see p. 269) the amount granted for roads throughout it was only Rs. 18,000, of which Rs. 10,000 was for 'jungle-clearing ' along the rough tracks which traversed it, the old rule being that 50 yards (the supposed effective arrow-range) should be cleared each side of a road. The annual allotment was slowly increased until in 1899 it reached Rs. 48,500 from Provincial funds and Rs. 10,000 from the Mahárája, special grants being occasionally made for special purposes. At first, it is clear, there was a want of system in the procedure, roads being made one year and left to go back to jungle the next; but latterly a series of five-year programmes have been drawn up and followed. The lines of road which have been completed may be conveniently referred to in their geographical order, beginning in the south of the district.
On the Golgonda hills there are no roads practicable for carts. The chief ghát up to them is that from Kondasanta, nine miles north of Narasapatam, to Lammasingi. This was first regularly opened up in 1882, when Rs. 2,400 was spent upon it. Five years later the trace was much altered, with the idea of making the road practicable for carts, and was lengthened from eight miles to nine. In 1888 Government specially ordered it to be proceeded with, and by 1890 it was completed nearly to the top.Two years later it was made passable, with difficulty, for carts throughout; but though an estimate for improving it into a regular cart-road was prepared in 1895, this has never been carried out. The road is regularly maintained and more than one officer has expressed the opinion that it is more than good enough for the work it has to do. The rough track up these hills from Koyyúr to Peddavalasa is also kept in order.
Proceeding northwards, the next ghat reached is that from Mádgole to Minamalúr on the Mádgole hills, fifteen miles (six on the plains) in length. This was begun in 1882, a rough trace
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