Imphal: The Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) has urged Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to intervene urgently to clear hundreds of goods vehicles stranded near the Assam border for more than 10 days.
The council warned that prolonged disruption of supply routes, coupled with poor road conditions and security concerns, could lead to shortages of essential commodities and further increase prices across the state.
According to reports, around 2,000 loaded vehicles, including trucks and fuel tankers, are currently stuck along a nearly 20-kilometre stretch between Jiribam and Pailapul in Assam. The number of stranded vehicles has reportedly continued to rise.
The Jiribam-Imphal route, a key supply corridor for Manipur, is taking between four and six days for vehicles to cover under normal conditions and can take more than a week when landslides occur.
Transporters said security arrangements are also inadequate. At present, only eight companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are available for security escorts, with individual convoys reportedly handling around 150 vehicles.
Sources said only three security convoys have been operating since August 1, contributing to the slow movement of traffic.
Heavy rainfall has further worsened the situation, triggering landslides and damaging vulnerable stretches of National Highway 37. Areas around Kambiron, Sibilong, Noney and Nungkao have been particularly affected.
A landslide at Nungkao early in the morning recently disrupted traffic for several hours. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) later cleared the debris and restored movement by evening.
Transporters have called for faster repairs and restoration of damaged road sections, urging authorities to take up the work on an urgent basis.
The TDC has also requested the state government to deploy additional security personnel from the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Rifles alongside existing CRPF units to facilitate the movement of stranded vehicles.
The council has sought direct intervention by the Chief Minister and instructions to NHIDCL for immediate repairs to ensure safer and smoother movement along the highway.
Meanwhile, truck operators travelling between Khongsang railway station and Imphal have threatened to suspend services, citing uncertainty over security arrangements along the route.
The vehicles carry essential supplies, including Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice, cement and agricultural fertilisers.
Drivers have reportedly raised concerns that recent CRPF escort arrangements do not cover the Khongsang-Imphal route, leaving them to travel through vulnerable areas without clear security assurances.
The TDC warned that failure to clear the existing backlog and provide adequate security could further disrupt the movement of essential goods and add to Manipur’s economic difficulties.