Imphal, Aug 26 (IANS) Inter-state public transport services along the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland)-Guwahati (Assam) route via National Highway-2 continued smoothly for the fifth day on Wednesday, with 268 passengers, including women, leaving Imphal in a fleet of 19 vehicles, officials said.
A Transport Department official said that the vehicles comprised five buses, five Winger vehicles and nine Scorpio/Bolero car vehicles.
The convoy departed from Imphal on Wednesday morning and smoothly crossed through the mountainous Kangpokpi, a predominantly Kuki-inhabited district, and Senapati, a Naga-inhabited district, without facing any problem.
The official added that the continued movement of public transport along NH-2 reflects the ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe and smooth travelling of passengers along the vital route.
The Interstate Taxi Association Joint Secretary Laishram Bhonilal said that the initiative taken by the new government and the Transport Department to restore road transportation after a prolonged period of restricted travel due to the ethnic conflict was a very positive and welcome step.
He added that the resumption of road transportation would greatly benefit passengers of all communities in Manipur, who had been facing difficulties in travelling freely for several years.
Khoirom Binodini, a passenger from Phubala, who was travelling to visit her children working in Nagaland capital Kohima, said that she had previously travelled by flight, but the high airfare was unaffordable for ordinary people.
“I heard that the government had taken steps to restore road transportation, so I booked a ticket and came here alone. I am not scared. Seeing many passengers travelling together also makes me feel happy,” she added.
She expressed her gratitude to the state government for taking the initiative, adding, “I once again thank the Manipur government for this step.”
Another passenger, Thangjam Brajakishor from Wangjing, said that after being unable to travel freely for the past three to four years due to the ethnic violence, the resumption of road transportation had come as a major relief, particularly for people struggling with the high cost of air travel.
“I used to pay around Rs 8,000 for a flight ticket to Guwahati. Now, I can travel to Guwahati for around Rs 1,000 and visit my child. This is a huge relief for people like us,” he added.
He thanked the Manipur government and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for the initiative and urged the state government to further expand the resumption of road transportation to more routes and destinations.
In a major development, inter-state passenger bus services between Manipur, Assam and Nagaland resumed on August 21 after a gap of more than three years.
The passenger bus services along National Highway-2 had remained disrupted following the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023.
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.
Meanwhile, during his visit to the mountainous Kangpokpi district on August 8, the Chief Minister, along with Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and local MLA Haokholet Kipgen, announced the reopening of the National Highways for the free movement of people belonging to all communities.
–IANS
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