For a state that has spent more than three years grappling with the disruption of one of its most vital transport corridors, Monday marked a quiet but symbolically powerful milestone. Inter-state public transport services between Manipur, Nagaland and Assam along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route via National Highway-2 continued smoothly for the third consecutive day, officials said. The steady, uneventful movement of buses across a highway once described as a "trouble-torn lifeline" is being celebrated as a tangible marker of the state's slow but decisive return to normalcy.
An official of the Manipur Transport Department confirmed that the passenger bus services along the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland)-Guwahati route via NH-2 continued for the third day on Monday, following the resumption of much-awaited inter-state bus services last week after a gap of more than three years. On Monday alone, more than 250 passengers — including women and children — departed from Imphal for Dimapur, Nagaland's main commercial city, and Assam's principal urban centre Guwahati, in a fleet of five buses and seven Winger vehicles, all moving under foolproof security cover.
Delay at Taphou Village, But Then Movement
The day was not entirely without tension. Reports of an unwanted incident at Taphou village in Senapati District between two communities delayed the departure of the vehicles. However, timely intervention by the administration, combined with strong public support, prevented the situation from escalating. Both sides involved agreed to maintain peace in the area, and the vehicles left for Dimapur and Guwahati on Monday afternoon. Adequate security personnel and Road Opening Parties (ROP) of the security forces have been deployed along vulnerable stretches of the highway to ensure free and safe movement.
A Government Message: Peace With Trust
The official framed the resumed service as a reflection of both administrative resolve and community confidence. The government, he said, is committed to safeguarding civilians while maintaining peace and harmony in the state. The strong passenger response, he added, demonstrates the trust and confidence that people have in the peace initiatives being taken by the state government. In a region where perception often shapes public mood as much as policy, that trust is being closely tracked.
Guwahati-Imphal Route: Smooth Landing at Khuman Lampak
The other direction of the corridor also delivered a peaceful result. Around 100 passengers who began their journey from Guwahati on Sunday reached the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak in Imphal safely on Monday afternoon. Notably, no unwanted incidents were reported along the highway during their journey — a significant milestone considering the sensitivities associated with NH-2.
Voices From the Road: Passengers Welcome the Restart
For many passengers, the resumed service is more than a transport option — it is an emotional reconnection with the rest of the country. Ngangbam Biren from Thoubal District, who was travelling from Guwahati, welcomed the government's initiatives under Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. Describing his experience, he said the entire journey from Guwahati to Imphal was pleasant and peaceful, and that the ride — after more than three years of interval — would remain memorable.
Okram Sunil Kumar Singh, another passenger from Wangjing, Thoubal District, echoed that sentiment. He said his journey from Assam to Manipur via NH-2 was safe for all communities and encouraged others to travel using the Inter-State Transport Service initiated by the Manipur government. Notably, he also expressed gratitude to both Naga and Kuki communities residing along NH-2 for their cooperation in allowing smooth passage of the vehicles — a powerful people-to-people acknowledgement.
The Political Green Light: August 8 Announcement
The current momentum has its roots in a joint political announcement made earlier this month. On August 8, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and local MLA Haokholet Kipgen collectively declared the reopening of the National Highways for free movement of people from all communities, along with the resumption of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service, at an event in Kangpokpi district. The joint political messaging — spanning both state leadership and local representation — was crucial in unlocking on-ground support for the resumption.
Why It Matters: NH-2 as Manipur's Lifeline
NH-2, the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway, is one of two crucial arteries — along with NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam National Highway) — that connect Manipur with the rest of the country. Since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023, movement along NH-2 has remained severely disrupted due to law-and-order issues and frequent blockades. That disruption has hit the movement of people, essential commodities, medical supplies, education-linked travel and economic goods hard. A restored NH-2 corridor is, therefore, not just about buses — it is about restoring the everyday flow of life in Manipur.
Industry Impact: Trade, Tourism and Trust
For traders, transport operators, essential goods suppliers and small businesses across the northeastern corridor, a functioning NH-2 is a transformative development. Freight movement becomes more predictable, prices of key commodities in Imphal ease, and cross-border trade with Myanmar via Manipur's eastern gateways becomes commercially viable again. Even the region's tentative tourism recovery hinges heavily on the perceived and actual safety of highway travel.
Audience Sentiment: Cautious Optimism
Reactions from within Manipur and the wider Northeast have been measured but hopeful. Locals recognise the fragility of the current calm — the Senapati episode is a live reminder — but they also see the sustained bus movement as concrete evidence that dialogue, security deployment and community cooperation are beginning to yield results. Continued visibility of successful, incident-free journeys will be the most important trust-building tool in the coming weeks.
The Road Ahead: Peace Must Hold, Buses Must Roll
The next few weeks will be critical. Any single incident on the highway could derail public confidence, and the state administration is clearly aware of the sensitivities. Continued visible security, active community-level engagement, and steady bus movement will together determine whether the current restoration hardens into a durable normalcy or slips back into disruption.
The Bigger Picture
The steady rhythm of buses along NH-2 is doing more than moving passengers between Imphal, Dimapur and Guwahati. It is helping stitch back a region that has been fractured by violence, distrust and disrupted mobility for more than three years. Every kilometre travelled without incident is a small but meaningful reaffirmation that Manipur is, slowly, reclaiming its highways — and with them, a critical piece of its future. As one passenger put it, this journey, after so long a pause, will remain memorable — because it is not just a bus ride. It is a return to the everyday.
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