Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur’s infrastructure is buckling under the monsoon. Persistent rains and recurring landslides have severed the Tadubi-Ukhrul stretch of National Highway 102A at Vaorei, forcing an indefinite closure that leaves transporters and commuters stranded. The route, which had been closed since June 27 for repairs and blacktopping, remains buried under debris despite joint inspections by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the Senapati District Truck Drivers’ Union, and the Senapati District Truck Owners’ Association.
Drivers and owners describe the situation as dire. With many travellers avoiding the security-sensitive Senapati-Kangpokpi stretch of NH-2, this alternate link has become a necessary lifeline. NHIDCL officials report that while they cleared the debris once, immediate fresh mudslides rendered the road impassable again. They maintain that permanent work must wait for drier weather.
Meanwhile, the massive project to upgrade 203 kilometres of NH-37 faces its own seasonal crisis. Despite NHIDCL receiving 1,040 crore rupees and completing major RCC bridges at the Irang, Barak, and Makru rivers, the road remains fragile. Heavy rains have turned stretches into quagmires, forcing travel times back up to eight hours. NHIDCL Deputy General Manager Rafique Ahmad Choudhury cited construction delays caused by land disputes, including a resolution involving 488 households in a protected forest area, and the surge in traffic due to the ongoing ethnic conflict since May 2023. Nearly 1,000 vehicles now use the road daily.
Commuters are frustrated. As one regular traveller noted, "With just a little rain, we are back to square one."
The All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union blames the deteriorating conditions on poor maintenance and steep hill cutting. NHIDCL has identified Keiphundai, Shantikhunou, Barak, Nungba, Rengpang, and Irang as critical trouble spots. Despite the current gridlock, the agency insists all major repairs will finish this month, with the entire project slated for completion by December 2026.
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