Technologies of transportation: road, bridge and boat construction in colonial Punjab

Abstract

The road and river transport have laid the foundations of human settlements since ancient times. After annexing Punjab in 1849, the British brought western technologies in road and river transportation for better movement of people and material for consolidation of their rule. The measures included building of roads, bridges and navigation through steam vessels. This paper gives a brief description of the technologies employed by the British in Colonial Punjab for construction of metalled roads, permanent and temporary bridges, native boats and introduction of steam vessels for river transportation. The technologies for road and bridge construction were western and modified as per local requirements. The best example of road construction was in the form of Grand Trunk road which traversed the region from Delhi to Peshawar. Permanent bridges were made using iron and masonry arched techniques. Steam vessels were brought to the rivers of Punjab after being constructed elsewhere. But owing to lack of depth in the rivers, the steam vessels did not succeed and were discontinued. Due to western technologies, the road and river transportation became quick and efficient and also generated employment, thereby impacting the local population.