25-04-2025
Why The Road Passing Through Attari Border Was Once Called NH-1
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The historic road passing through Attari Border, once known as NH-1, was built by Sher Shah Suri and became India's first major national highway connecting key cities.
Nearly four centuries ago, long before the idea of tarred roads came into being, a visionary ruler in medieval India laid the foundation for one of South Asia's most ambitious infrastructure projects. Sher Shah Suri, who ruled from 1540 to 1545, constructed a massive roadway stretching from Kabul in the west to Bengal in the east.
Known in his time as Sadak-e-Azam or Shahi Sadak, this 4,000-kilometre route would later be renamed the Grand Trunk Road by the British – a name that would become synonymous with both military strategy and economic lifeblood.
Built without modern materials, the road was ingeniously paved using stone, gravel, and soil, creating a smooth surface that enabled swift movement of horses, carts, and royal messengers. Sher Shah Suri's purpose went beyond mere connectivity – the road was a cornerstone of his administrative and military reforms. It allowed soldiers to move quickly across the empire, enabled vigilant surveillance of enemy advances, and vastly improved trade by giving merchants, caravans, and travellers a secure and organised route.
According to Akbarnama, the celebrated chronicle by Abul Fazl, the road extended 2,500 miles (approximately 4,000 kilometres) and passed through key cities such as Kabul, Peshawar, Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi, Agra, Allahabad, Banaras, Munger, and Sonargaon (now in Bangladesh).
Along the route, Sher Shah Suri established rest houses (sarais), water tanks, and stable facilities for horses – infrastructure that was revolutionary for its time.
It is believed that 15,000 to 20,000 workers including artisans, stone cutters, and masons were involved in the road's construction. Abul Fazl noted that Sher Shah spent a substantial portion of provincial revenue on the project. In today's terms, the cost would be equivalent to crores of rupees.
Fast forward to the modern era, the Grand Trunk Road continued to hold strategic and symbolic importance. After Independence in 1947, a portion of the road remained in Pakistan while the stretch from Attari to Kolkata came under Indian jurisdiction.
Owing to its vast reach and historical significance, it was designated as National Highway 1 (NH-1) – India's premier national highway. It connected Amritsar and Delhi to Kolkata and was considered the country's primary artery, crucial for both defence and commerce.
However, the landscape of highway system began to shift in 2010. As part of a broader renumbering and restructuring of the national highway network, NH-1 was reclassified. Its segments were absorbed into other highways such as NH-44, which now stretches from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, and NH-3. The original NH-1 name was reassigned to a completely different route – one that connects Uri to Leh in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, passing through critical mountain passes and considered the 'lifeline" of the Ladakh region.
Despite these changes, the legacy of the Grand Trunk Road – especially the Attari stretch – remains deeply etched in public memory. Locals and older documents still refer to it as NH-1 or the Attari Highway, a testament to its lasting impact.
Though improved with tar and modern engineering, parts of the highway still suffer from traffic congestion and periodic maintenance issues. Yet, its significance endures. The road continues to facilitate trade, support military logistics, and serve as a living reminder of an empire builder whose five-year rule left behind a highway that still connects hearts, histories, and homelands.
