Imphal: Public transport on the Imphal to Guwahati route via NH-2 hit a five-day streak today. A convoy of 19 vehicles left Imphal at 10:10 am carrying 268 passengers. The fleet included five buses, five Wingers, and nine Scorpio or Bolero vehicles.
Laishram Bhonilal, Joint Secretary of the Interstate Taxi Association, praised the state government and Transport Department for clearing the route. He noted that the restoration of road travel ends years of conflict-driven isolation. He said, "The resumption of services would benefit people across communities who had faced difficulties travelling by road."
Travelers expressed relief as road options provide a cheaper alternative to flights. Khoirom Binodini of Phubala headed to Kohima to visit her children. She ditched air travel because of the high cost and cited safety in numbers as a key reason for her confidence. Thangjam Brajakishor of Wangjing echoed this sentiment. He noted that a trip to Guwahati now costs roughly Rs 1,000 compared to Rs 8,000 by air.
The passengers thanked the government and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for the move. They are now pushing for the state to open up even more routes to additional destinations.
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