Imphal: The Zeme Students’ Organisation Manipur (ZSOM) has appealed to the Manipur government to immediately reconstruct the Tamenglong–Tousem headquarters road, saying its poor condition has severely disrupted transportation and affected access to essential services.
Describing the road as a vital link for the Tousem subdivision, the student body said the route has become nearly unusable due to prolonged neglect and heavy monsoon rains. It noted that the damaged stretch has made travel increasingly difficult for residents, particularly those requiring medical care, education, and other essential services.
According to ZSOM, several portions of the road turn into deep slush during the rainy season, leaving ambulances, school vehicles, and passenger transport stranded for hours and, in some cases, overnight. A journey that normally takes around three-and-a-half hours has become an exhausting and uncertain ordeal for commuters.
ZSOM president Raninglung Newme criticised the maintenance work carried out by the executing agencies, Zandu Company and KCC Company, calling it inadequate and ineffective. He said temporary repairs, including patchwork and occasional road clearing, have failed to improve the road’s condition in any meaningful way.
The organisation also pointed out that local villagers have been forced to undertake makeshift repairs themselves by filling potholes with stones, gravel and mud in an effort to keep the road passable.
Calling for immediate government intervention, ZSOM urged the state administration to prioritise the permanent reconstruction of the road instead of relying on temporary maintenance measures. It demanded adequate funding, the deployment of qualified engineering teams and the implementation of a long-term solution to restore reliable connectivity.
Reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the region, the student body said it would continue pressing the government until concrete steps are taken to rebuild the Tamenglong–Tousem road.