Kamjong border residents demand road repairs amid election prep

Imphal: Villagers living along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong District are demanding immediate government intervention to repair crumbling Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) roads. These routes, meant to provide essential links to the district headquarters, are now overgrown with vegetation and riddled with potholes. The Kamjong-Chattric-Chahong Khunou road is virtually impassable. A 13-kilometre section near headquarters was once blacktopped, but neglect has left it in ruins. Residents now rely on a single 31-kilometre stretch from Kamjong to Huimin Thana, built by the Northeastern Council, as the only functioning road in the district.

Connectivity hit a breaking point on July 21, 2026. Suspected Kuki militants blew up the Bailey bridge over the Namban River. This destroyed a critical link for the entire region. The damage left border populations cut off and increasingly vulnerable.

Other neglected PMGSY routes include Zingsui to Mapum, Zingsui to Sahamphung, Sahamphung to Matiyang, Matiyang to Chamu, Chamu to Khayang and Phungtha, Phungtha to Kachaophung, and Maokot to Kachaophung. Additional segments left in disrepair are the BRTF Road-Sampui-Ningthi, BRTF Road-Maku, Maku Junction-Langli-Chahong Khullen, BRTF Road-Shingcha, and the Kamjong-Kongkan-Aishi-Molvailup-Kultuh route.

Healthcare access is equally dire. The Primary Health Sub-Centre at Sahamphung lacks staff, infrastructure, and basic medical equipment. Sick patients must travel to the Kamjong District Hospital to get help. Residents claim they have sent multiple memoranda to the Chief Minister, the Governor, and the Commissioner of Rural Development, yet the problems persist. They allege the area remains largely ignored.

On November 8, Hungyo Worshang, Secretary of the Public Health Engineering Department, inspected polling stations in the 43-Phungyar Assembly Constituency to prepare for the 2027 state elections. Officials, including PHED Executive Engineer Chamdanlung Rongmei, PWD Executive Engineer Garnish Kashung, and Zonal Education Officer Badan Thaimei, assessed sites for basic standards like drinking water, lighting, and accessibility. Local residents noted that these election preparations occur while their region remains one of the hardest hit by the ongoing communal conflict in Manipur. "The area remains neglected, leaving the villagers to fend for themselves," locals stated. With limited state security presence, villagers remain anxious about their safety and the feasibility of voting in a region suffering from a total collapse of public infrastructure.