SENAPATI: Mudslides struck the Tadubi–Ukhrul stretch of National Highway 102 A at Vaorei (Chainage Km 68+600). A second joint inspection by the Senapati District Truck Drivers’ Union, the Senapati District Truck Owners’ Association, and officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), further delaying the restoration of the crucial highway.
The highway has remained closed since June 27 for road improvement and blacktopping works and was scheduled to reopen on July 17. However, incessant rainfall and recurring mudslides have repeatedly disrupted construction, preventing the project from progressing as planned.
According to officials and those present during the inspection, the affected stretch had been cleared temporarily to facilitate vehicular movement. Shortly afterward, another major mudslide buried the road under debris, bringing traffic to a complete halt once again.
Representatives of the Senapati District Truck Drivers’ Union and the Senapati District Truck Owners’ Association said the prolonged closure has severely affected transporters, with commercial vehicles unable to operate on the route for weeks. They urged the concerned authorities to expedite the restoration work, saying the continued disruption has hampered the movement of goods and passengers.
The transport bodies further stated that the Tadubi–Ukhrul highway has become an important alternative route for many civilians amid the prevailing security situation in Manipur. According to them, many Naga travellers have been avoiding the Senapati–Kangpokpi stretch of NH-2 due to security concerns and often require security escorts when travelling through that route, making the Tadubi–Ukhrul road a vital link for connectivity.
Officials of NHIDCL said they are making every effort to complete the project but that continuous rainfall and repeated mudslides have made it impossible to carry out the work as scheduled. They said the immediate priority is to clear the debris and restore temporary vehicular movement, while the remaining work, including the laying of a durable blacktop surface, will be completed once weather conditions improve.
The repeated disruptions have intensified concerns among residents, transporters and commuters, as the highway serves as a critical lifeline connecting Senapati, Ukhrul and Imphal. With the ongoing conflict already restricting movement in parts of the state, local stakeholders have appealed for the earliest possible restoration of the highway to ensure safe and reliable connectivity.
