Imphal: Manipur’s vital supply corridor, National Highway 37 (Imphal~Silchar), has deteriorated into a dangerous and unreliable route, prompting transporters to demand immediate government intervention.
Poor road conditions, recurring monsoon-induced landslides, inadequate maintenance and rampant illegal collections have severely disrupted the movement of essential commodities, raising concerns over the State’s economic stability.
Highlighting the worsening situation, the All Jiribam Road Transport Drivers’ Union has described NH-37 as unsafe for travel and accused the authorities of failing to maintain the highway despite its strategic importance as one of Manipur’s principal lifelines.
Speaking to the media, Union President Sanasam Pratap Singh urged the Government to undertake urgent repairs of NH-37, strengthen security arrangements for transporters, eliminate illegal check-gates and ensure uninterrupted movement of goods along the route.
He alleged that truck drivers are routinely forced to make payments at several unauthorized collection points, adding to the financial burden on transporters, and appealed to the authorities to take strict action against such unlawful practices.
Singh also appealed to communities living along the highway to extend their cooperation to transporters, emphasizing that drivers are indispensable to maintaining the steady supply of essential commodities and supporting the State’s economy.
Describing NH-37 as Manipur’s economic lifeline, Singh said the highway has neither been constructed nor maintained to the required standards, making transportation increasingly risky. He noted that the situation becomes particularly critical during the monsoon season, when frequent landslides, damaged culverts, and road collapses regularly disrupt traffic and pose serious risks to commuters and cargo vehicles.
He further pointed out that transporters continue to face prolonged delays while waiting for security escorts, resulting in significant losses as perishable goods often spoil before reaching their destinations. Expressing dissatisfaction over what he termed the Government’s continued neglect of the highway, Singh urged the authorities to immediately restore the damaged stretches, improve infrastructure, and ensure the safe and efficient movement of vehicles along NH-37.