"النقل الآلي الطرق في بلاد فارس. المجلد ١ - الطرق الرئيسية. ١٩٤٢" [و‎‎١‎٩‎٧] (٤٩٨/٣٩٨)

M. T. ROUTE No. XI.
KARA] to RESHT via CHALUS.
Distance .—220 miles.
Number of stages. —15.
Reference Sheets. —9-M, 8 -P, 8 -L, 8 -K.
Date of compilation .—December 1941.
Authorities. —M.A. Tehran 1935. Intelligence Report 1941,
ROUTE XI—SECTION A.
KARA! to CHALUS.
Distance .—104 miles.
Number of stages. — 8 .
Reference Sheets. —9-M, 8 -P.
GENERAL REPORT.
1. General Description of Route .—This route, knotvn by the
Iranians as the “ Rah-i-Makhsus ” or “ The Special Road ”, was
completed in 1933 by order of the Shah at a cost of over £1
million. He desired a road offering more rapid transit from
TEHRAN to his MAZANDERAN estates than either the
KAZVIN/RESHT (Route XII) or the FIRUZKUH/SHAHI
(Route X) roads. He also wanted a direct route from those
estates to the Iranian plateau to facilitate the export of his
produce.
The result is a road which, in its bold conception and
skilful construction, can have few equals in the world; the
scenery too is magnificent. From a strategic point of view, it is
of increasing importance as an alternative route from TEHRAN
and KAZVIN to the ports on the Caspian Sea.
2. Classification. —B. 1 only, owing to steep gradients and
numerous sharp bends.
3. Surface and Grading .—A soled and metalled road of
average width of 12-14", adequately cambered and ditched. It
appears to have been repaired recently (September 1941) though
there were still portions under repair near CHALUS. All bridges
are strongly built of stone, and masonry revetting has been used
wherever necessary. The gradients over the ELBURZ mountains
though well engineered are steep, and there are many sharp bends.
A tunnel 1^ miles long has been constructed through the apex of
the KANDAVAN Pass. If heavy lorries were to use the road