GUWAHATI: Public transport services on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route resumed on Friday, August 21, after remaining suspended for more than three years following the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur on May 3, 2023.
ALSO READ: Eviction Underway at Guwahati’s Pandu for Proposed New Saraighat Bridge
The resumption marks a significant step towards restoring inter-state connectivity for people in Manipur, with the service having remained one of the major casualties of the prolonged conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
A total of 125 passengers travelled on the first day, using two buses and five Wingers to travel from Imphal to Guwahati via Nagaland.
National Highways 2 and 37 are considered lifelines for Manipur, connecting the state with the rest of the country. NH-2, which connects Imphal with Dimapur, is the preferred route for commuters and transporters as it is shorter. Bus services along the route had traditionally served as a major mode of surface transport for people travelling between Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
Efforts to restore free movement on the state's highways had previously faced resistance. In March last year, an attempt by the Centre to restore unrestricted movement on all roads in Manipur triggered protests, during which a mob attacked a Manipur State Transport bus in Kangpokpi. One person was killed and several others were injured in the incident.
The latest resumption comes less than two weeks after Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced during his visit to Kangpokpi district on August 8 that the state's National Highways would be reopened for the free movement of people from all communities.