How did Akbar expand the postal road system in Mughal India?

Under the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar, the postal system reached a significant height, supported by a network of 2,000 miles of post roads.1

Rather than creating the infrastructure from scratch, Akbar’s expansion followed in logical sequence from the foundational work of Sher Shah of Sūr. Sher Shah had previously established a vital network of roads connecting Hindustan to major trading routes in central and western Asia. By 1600, Akbar had considerably extended this network, linking Agra to key commercial hubs such as Burhanpur, Cambay, Surat, and Ahmedabad. Additionally, he secured control over the ports of Bengal and established Lahore and Multan as gateways to Kabul and the Indus ports.2

This infrastructure facilitated an organized official service of mounted couriers and runners, which was essential for the centralized administration Akbar implemented to maintain control over his vast empire.13