Senapati, 04 June: As incessant monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Manipur, causing floods and destruction in various districts, the state has also been cut off due to a massive landslide near Phesama, Nagaland. This has raised serious concerns over the availability of essential commodities and fuel in the market. Recognizing the urgent need to identify an alternate route to transport essential supplies to Manipur, Mao A/C MLA Losii Dikho personally conducted a survey on Wednesday along the NH-2 point from Mao to Chakhabama via the Kedima route, bordering Nagaland.
Following the survey, he called for the immediate repair of the said route to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of passenger vehicles and six-wheeled heavy vehicles ferrying essential goods to Manipur.
The Mao MLA pointed out that the surveyed route serves as the alternate lifeline to Manipur until a bypass is constructed at the Phesama landslide site, as other highways like NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) and Maram-Peren (129A) are also experiencing frequent landslides and cover much longer distances compared to the Mao-Chakhabama route.
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He further informed that the stretch from Mao (NH-2 Martyrs’ Park point) to Kedima (Nagaland) is only 8 km, and the entire Mao to Chakhabama route before reaching Kohima is 26 km. However, he noted that the stretches within Manipur have not been maintained for a long time, leading to severe deterioration, whereas the Nagaland sections are broader and better maintained. During the survey, it was found that six-wheeled and other vehicles can still ply the route, despite the narrow sections within Manipur, until NH-2 is restored.
Meanwhile, trucks and heavy vehicles headed for Manipur have been stranded since June 1 below Kohima main town, with drivers facing severe hardships due to the lack of basic amenities.
It may be noted that the ongoing monsoon rains continue to devastate most of the Northeastern states, with Manipur being one of the worst-hit. Its main lifeline, NH-2, has been totally cut off at Phesama near the Heritage Village in Nagaland since June 2. As of now, the bypass route has not been completed due to inclement weather, although small and light vehicles are being allowed through narrow alternative routes.
According to sources, the NHIDCL team working on the bypass route is likely to take more time to complete the work.
Speaking to our reporter, former minister and MLA Losii Dikho stated that due to the massive sinking at Phesama, the Kohima DC has issued a travel advisory stopping all Manipur-bound heavy trucks at Zubza and Dimapur-bound trucks at Khuzama. Light vehicles have been advised to take the Chakhabama–Mao route via Kedima.
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Anticipating a possible delay in the restoration of NH-2, Dikho personally inspected the Chakhabama–Mao route and stated that the route is quite feasible for light vehicles, including six-wheeled trucks, provided serious repair work is undertaken immediately. He reiterated that the distance from NH-2 to Kedima is only 8 km, and a further 18 km from Kedima to Chakhabama.
The MLA mentioned that light vehicles and six-wheeled trucks can easily ply the route if repairs are promptly carried out. He also stated that he had already requested the Chief Minister of Nagaland to repair the route within Nagaland’s jurisdiction, and the CM assured him that necessary steps would be taken immediately.
The MLA added that he would apprise the Manipur State Government to consider declaring this route as an alternate lifeline until NH-2 is fully restored, in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities into the state.