Manipur Transport Group Demands Urgent Repairs to Lifeline Highway

Imphal: Manipur’s transport sector is teetering on the edge. The Transporters and Drivers Council is pushing both state and central officials to fast-track repairs on the Imphal-Jiribam road, also known as NH-37. This highway is now the only land route for fuel and supplies since the Imphal-Dimapur road shut down in early May.

TDC President Hijam Ranjit issued a sharp warning today. He claims prolonged neglect will trigger a fresh wave of inflation and empty store shelves across the state. Heavy monsoon rains and relentless landslides have ravaged the road, turning standard hauls into multi-day endurance tests. Current repair speeds by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited are far too slow.

Ranjit did not mince words regarding the sluggish pace of work. “Criticising the state government and NHIDCL for failing to carry out repairs on a war footing, the TDC said NH-37 remains Manipur’s only viable land route for fuel and commodity transport,” the council stated.

The council is calling on every local lawmaker to pressure the central government for immediate action. They specifically pointed to Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, who recently asked Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to speed up work on the NH-102A and NH-202 projects. The group wants the rest of the legislature to mirror that intensity to keep the state’s primary supply line open.