Manipur: 300 Loaded Vehicles Stranded on Damaged NH-37; Transporters Threaten PIL Against NHIDCL
Around 300 loaded vehicles travelling under security escort remain stranded on the severely damaged National Highway-37 (Imphal–Silchar) in Manipur’s Noney district, as worsening road conditions continue to disrupt the state’s primary supply route.
According to reports, the stranded convoys departed from Jiribam carrying 109 fuel tankers and 191 goods trucks, but were forced to halt in Noney district due to knee-deep mud and severely deteriorated stretches of the highway.
Meanwhile, 150 loaded vehicles from Jiribam and 225 previously stranded trucks successfully reached Imphal on July 9.
Authorities said that owing to a shortage of security personnel, no empty trucks or fuel tankers will travel from Imphal to Jiribam. However, two security convoys carrying loaded vehicles are scheduled to leave Jiribam on Friday.
The deteriorating condition of NH-37 has prompted the Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) to announce plans to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
According to TDC president Hijam Ranjit, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)had sanctioned Rs 1,300 crore in 2022 for widening and upgrading the 203-km Imphal–Silchar stretch into an all-weather highway. He alleged that nearly Rs 1,040 crore, around 80 percent of the sanctioned amount, has already been spent despite the road remaining in an extremely poor condition.
The TDC pointed out that several stretches, including Kaiphundai, Shantikhunou, Barak, Nungba, Rengpang, and Irang, have become nearly impassable due to deep mud and damaged surfaces.
Rejecting NHIDCL’s claim that the road deteriorated because of increased traffic following the May 2023 conflict, the transporters’ body argued that the daily vehicle movement has remained below 700 vehicles, a volume routinely handled by highways in neighbouring states such as Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura.
Transporters said a journey that normally takes four to five hours now stretches over several days, severely affecting the transportation of fuel and essential commodities into Manipur. They also expressed doubts over NHIDCL’s assurance that the project would be completed by December 2026.
The TDC has demanded immediate repairs in accordance with standard engineering specifications and warned that legal action would follow if there is no visible improvement in the highway’s condition.
Meanwhile, Manipur Police said security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination exercises in vulnerable hill and valley districts. Authorities ensured the movement of 675 vehicles carrying essential commodities along NH-37 under security escort.
Officials added that strict security arrangements remain in place along vulnerable stretches of the highway, with convoy protection being provided to facilitate the safe movement of vehicles. A total of 114 nakas (checkpoints) have also been established across Manipur to strengthen surveillance and maintain law and order.
