TAMENGLONG: Zeme Students’ Organisation Manipur (ZSOM) has made an urgent appeal to the Government of Manipur to immediately restore and reconstruct the Tamenglong–Tousem headquarters road, describing its deteriorating condition as one of the gravest challenges confronting the people of the Tousem subdivision.
Addressing the worsening state of the road, ZSOM president Raninglung Newme said the Tamenglong–Tousem road is not merely a transportation route but the lifeline of thousands of residents. As the only road linking Tousem with the Tamenglong District Headquarters, it provides vital access to healthcare, educational institutions, government offices, banking services, and economic activities.
He stated that the road has deteriorated to such an extent that safe vehicular movement has become nearly impossible. During the monsoon season, large stretches turn into deep mud, leaving ambulances, passenger vehicles, school transport, and private vehicles stranded for hours. Patients requiring emergency medical care, students travelling for examinations, elderly citizens, women, and children have been among the worst affected by the prolonged neglect of this crucial road.
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Expressing concern over the lack of timely intervention by the authorities, Newme said local villagers and commuters have repeatedly taken it upon themselves to carry out temporary repairs using spades, shovels, stones, gravel, and other locally available materials. While these voluntary efforts demonstrate the resilience and unity of the people, he said they also highlight the failure to provide essential public infrastructure.
He further noted that heavy rainfall frequently leaves travellers stranded overnight as vehicles become trapped in thick mud, resulting in physical hardship, financial losses, delays in emergency medical treatment, disruption of education, and significant psychological distress.
“The Tamenglong–Tousem road has become a road only in name. It no longer serves the purpose for which it was constructed. Every journey has become a struggle for survival. It is unacceptable that, in this modern era, our people continue to endure such inhumane conditions simply because of poor road connectivity,” Newme said.
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The ZSOM president urged the Government of Manipur, the concerned departments, and all responsible authorities to recognise the seriousness of the situation and take immediate steps to restore the road. He appealed for adequate funding, deployment of the necessary machinery and engineering teams, and commencement of permanent reconstruction without further delay.
Newme also expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and pace of the ongoing maintenance work undertaken by the executing agencies, including Zandu Company and KCC Company. While acknowledging that maintenance activities are being carried out, he alleged that the work remains largely superficial and insufficient to address the underlying problems. According to him, occasional clearing and patchwork cannot provide a sustainable solution to the hardships faced by commuters.
He stressed that improving the Tamenglong–Tousem headquarters road is not merely an infrastructure project but a matter of protecting lives and ensuring equitable access to healthcare, education, government services, and economic opportunities. Continued negligence, he said, only widens the developmental gap and further isolates the people of the Tousem area.
Calling on elected representatives, public leaders, and all stakeholders to rise above political differences, Newme urged them to work collectively towards resolving the long-standing issue. He remarked that the people have waited for decades and deserve concrete action rather than repeated assurances.
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He further pointed out that although the journey between Tamenglong and Tousem should ordinarily take about three and a half hours, the poor condition of the road often extends travel time significantly, with many commuters stranded for several hours or even overnight. He appealed to the authorities to treat the matter with utmost urgency.
The Zeme Students’ Organisation Manipur (ZSOM) reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of the people and stated that it will continue to advocate for the restoration of the Tamenglong–Tousem headquarters road until remarkable action is taken.
