Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Manipur is running low on essential goods. Freight operators are abandoning the state as road transit becomes a financial nightmare. Routes are unreliable, unsafe, and incredibly slow. The region relies entirely on two national highways for food, medicine, and fuel. Both are failing.
Before the current unrest started in May 2023, a round trip from Guwahati to Imphal took four days. Now, the same trek eats up to 30 days. Fuel, wages, and maintenance costs are soaring while potential profits vanish. "Transporters simply do not find it economically viable to send their vehicles to Manipur anymore," said wholesale distributor Nahakpam Shanta.
National Highway-2 remains largely blocked by rival factions. Traffic is forced onto the fractured National Highway-37, which is currently undergoing slow, painful repairs. The highway is a logistical disaster. Security convoys are the only way through, but they create massive backups. Thousands of trucks sit idle at the border, waiting for clearance. Perishable goods often rot in the heat.
Consumers are paying the price. Freight charges for basic goods have jumped by nearly 50 percent. A sack of potatoes costs much more than it did a year ago. Onions have nearly doubled in price. Construction materials like cement and steel are also hitting record highs. Wholesalers fear that the coming monsoon will trigger landslides, effectively cutting the state off from the rest of the country. If the supply lines stay broken, the shelves will soon be empty.
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