Inter-state bus services on Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route continue smoothly for second day

Imphal, Aug 22 (AHN) The resumption of public transport services along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway (NH-2) continued smoothly for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with no untoward incident reported, officials said.

A senior Manipur Transport Department official said that more than 200 passengers travelled from Imphal in a fleet of four buses and six Winger vehicles and passed through the mountainous Kangpokpi, a predominantly Kuki-inhabited district, and Senapati, a Naga-inhabited district, without facing any problem.

The vehicles departed from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak in Imphal on Saturday morning.

In a related development, the 125 passengers who had undertaken the inaugural journey on Friday safely reached Guwahati earlier on Saturday, marking a smooth beginning to the restoration of the inter-state passenger transport service.

The resumption of transport services along the trouble-torn NH-2 comes after Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and local MLA Haokholet Kipgen jointly announced the reopening of the National Highways for free movement of people from all communities and the resumption of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service on August 8 in Kangpokpi district.

The Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway (NH-2) are the two crucial lifelines of Manipur, connecting the state with the rest of the country.

Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, movement along NH-2 has remained severely disrupted due to law-and-order issues and frequent blockades, affecting the movement of people and essential commodities between Manipur and other Northeastern states.

Meanwhile, after a gap of more than three years, inter-state passenger bus services between Manipur, Assam and Nagaland resumed on Friday, in another significant step towards restoring normal connectivity in the violence-hit state.

The inter-state passenger bus services had remained suspended following the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023.

The Transport Department official said that, as part of the state government's continuing efforts to restore peace and normalcy, public transport services on the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland)-Guwahati (Assam) route resumed on Friday, marking a significant development after a gap of more than three years since the unprecedented ethnic crisis erupted in the state.

He added that on Friday, a total of 125 passengers travelled on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route in two buses and five Winger vehicles.

The official said that the smooth movement of the passenger vehicles through the sensitive areas along NH-2 on both Friday and Saturday has provided a boost to efforts to restore normal inter-state movement and connectivity.

The resumption of the service is considered an important step towards restoring normal life and strengthening inter-state connectivity, particularly after prolonged disruptions caused by the ethnic conflict.

The official said that the resumption of the bus service has been widely appreciated by the public, with people welcoming the restoration of the crucial inter-state link connecting Manipur with Nagaland and Assam.

The restored passenger service is also expected to facilitate the movement of students, patients, traders, employees and other travellers who depend on road connectivity between Manipur and neighbouring states.

The Chief Minister said on Friday that resumption of public transport services on the Imphal--Dimapur (Nagaland)--Guwahati route along NH-2 is an important step towards ensuring the free movement of people and restoring normalcy in the state.

He urged the people to use the government transport services without fear.

Chief Minister Khemchand Singh said that airfare between Imphal and Guwahati is very high and described the situation as a kind of punishment for the people of the state.