The 1900s brought the Industrial Revolution to Vizag. Railways, with steam locomotives, joined Vizag to Calcutta and Madras. Steamers anchored offshore to offload visitors and take on various cargo bound for Europe. Bullock cart tracks marked the Main Road, through the Old Town, past St John’s Church, and transit through Kothavedhi and the Dargah, to the waterfront at the channel entrance. Horse and carriages were the transport of the wealthy. Hand-pulled rickshaws, and horse-drawn jutkas, provided transport for the local people.
Early motorcars to the city
The first motorcars brought to Vizag were the ones by Ford in 1904 by Messrs. Arbuthnot & Co of Chittivalasa Indigo Factory and its engineer, Mr. Innes. The second Ford car was brought by Capt. C Arlington in 1907, the adjutant of the East Coast Battalion. These were most likely Ford Model AC as advertised at that time. The two-cylinder Model AC was sold for about US $1,000, whereas the larger four-passenger, four-cylinder luxury Ford B was sold for about US $2,000. The aristocrats of the city travelled in the steamers to Europe and were fascinated by this new mode of personal luxury travel – the automobile.
The early luxury cars were made to the specifications of their owners. In 1912, the Vizagapatam royals had ordered a Humber Landaulette with windows that were smoked and lined with fine gauze. This was for Her Highness Seetaba Rani Sahib of Wadhwan (daughter of Maharajah Gajapathi Rao), and the ladies of the zenana, when she had relocated back to Vizag after being widowed.
This story is from the February - March 2020 edition of Yo Vizag.
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This story is from the February - March 2020 edition of Yo Vizag.
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