Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018

Medieval Public Infrastructure

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who constructed a road from East Bengal to Peshawar called Sadak-e-Azam?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Infrastructure was the key to imperial survival. A road connecting the far eastern and western frontiers allowed for rapid troop movement, efficient trade, and a reliable postal system.

Explanation Sher Shah Suri constructed the Sadak-e-Azam (The Great Road), which we now know as the Grand Trunk Road. It stretched approximately 2,400 km, connecting Sonargaon in East Bengal to Peshawar in the northwest. He also built over 1,700 'sarais' (inns) and planted trees along the route for travelers.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Sher Shah revived an ancient route known as the *Uttarapath* and turned it into a modern, safe highway for commerce.
Logic 2: This road remained the backbone of Indian logistics through the Mughal, Maratha, and British periods, and is still in use today as part of the NH network.

Active Recall

Question

What was the purpose of the 'Sarais' built by Sher Shah?

Answer

They were combined rest houses and postal stations where travelers could rest and fresh horses were kept for the state's news messengers.

Core Insight

Sher Shah's road was not just a path; it was a 'Network State' that unified the diverse regions of the Indo-Gangetic plain for the first time in centuries.