Manipur Drivers Threaten Strike Over Ruined Highway

Imphal: Drivers in Manipur are pulling the plug. The All Manipur Road Transport and Motor Workers Union plans an indefinite strike starting July 1 if NH-37 remains in shambles. Over 1,000 trucks carrying fuel and goods are stuck in the mud. Recent heavy rains triggered massive landslides, blocking the state's only operational lifeline from Silchar to Imphal.

NH-2 closed back in May. Now, the state relies entirely on this single, broken route. Maimom Anil Meitei, the union general secretary, stated, "The current security-escorted movement of around 150 vehicles per day is insufficient to meet the state's needs." This bottleneck is already driving up local prices and causing severe supply shortages across the region.

The union points the finger at the state government and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. They claim the road has barely improved since 1971. The group demands a monitoring committee to hold the road agency accountable for maintenance. If the road stays impassable by June 30, the trucks stop moving for good.