Manipur resumes Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus services after over three years amid peace efforts

GUWAHATI: In a significant development in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, public transport services on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route resumed on Friday after a gap of more than three years.

Key points

• One of the travellers, Kiyam Kumarjit Singh from Thoubal district, thanked the state administration for this positive initiative.
• A total of 125 passengers travelled on the route in two buses and five wingers on Friday.
• As it is a shorter route, national Highways 2 is preferred by commuters as well as transporters.
• The administration in the ethnically partitioned state had for long produced efforts to resume public transport services towards restoring peace and normalcy.
• The resumption of this service is an significant step towards restoring normal life and strengthening connectivity.

For context, the administration in the ethnically partitioned state had for long produced efforts to resume public transport services towards restoring peace and normalcy. The services remained suspended since the eruption of the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis on May 3, 2023.

In practice, a total of 125 passengers travelled on the route in two buses and five wingers on Friday. When reports last came in, the vehicles were crossing the Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district. Beyond Kangpokpi is Naga-majority Senapati district and then, Nagaland.

National Highways 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) and 37 are Manipur's lifeline. As it is a shorter route, national Highways 2 is preferred by commuters as well as transporters. Movement along National Highway 37. It enters Manipur from southern Assam's Barak Valley, is often affected due to disruptions and extortion demands by myriad organisations.

During a visit to Kangpokpi on August 8, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had confirmed the immediate reopening of national highways for free movement of residents from all communities in the state.

In March last year, Centre's attempt to restore free movement for individuals on all roads in the state met with angry protests with a mob attacking a bus of Manipur State Transport in Kangpokpi. One person was killed while a number of others were injured.

"The resumption of this service is an significant step towards restoring normal life and strengthening connectivity. It has been widely appreciated by the public, with individuals welcoming the restoration of this crucial inter-state link, " a Manipur administration statement noted.

One of the travellers, Kiyam Kumarjit Singh from Thoubal district, thanked the state administration for this positive initiative. He remarked that this new journey should usher in love, peace, and harmony among all communities in the state, and assist individuals move beyond what had happened previously. "Let us all forgive and forget the past, " he continued.

Taken together, the developments around manipur resumes Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus services after over three years amid peace efforts point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.