Over 1,700 loaded trucks are stranded on NH-37, prompting Manipur transporters to seek more security forces and urgent road repairs to restore essential supplies.
Imphal, August 9: More than 1,700 loaded trucks carrying essential commodities are stranded at the Assam-Jiribam border and in Jiribam due to poor road conditions and shortage of escort forces along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway-37, the Transporters' and Drivers' Council, Manipur has said.
In a letter to Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh dated August 9, the council sought urgent augmentation of security forces and road repairs on the highway to facilitate the movement of the stranded vehicles.
The council said eight companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are currently deployed to provide security for convoys carrying loaded vehicles from Jiribam to Imphal and empty trucks travelling from Imphal towards Jiribam.
However, according to the council, the existing security arrangement has not been sufficient to clear the growing number of stranded vehicles, particularly amid severely damaged and muddy stretches of NH-37.
Trucks stranded for more than 10 days
The transporters' body said more than 1,700 loaded trucks are currently waiting at the Assam-Jiribam border and in Jiribam.
Some of the vehicles, it stated, have remained stranded for more than 10 days.
The prolonged disruption has raised concerns over the supply of essential commodities to different parts of Manipur, while also creating difficulties for truck drivers who have been forced to remain on the highway for extended periods.
The council warned that the continued accumulation of trucks could further disrupt the state's supply chain if movement is not restored on a priority basis.
Essential goods shortage, price rise feared
The Transporters' and Drivers' Council said the prolonged disruption has already contributed to an acute shortage of essential commodities in Manipur and an abnormal rise in prices.
The organisation also highlighted the difficulties faced by drivers who remain stranded for days without adequate facilities.
As more trucks continue to arrive and join the existing queue, the council said the situation could worsen unless the stranded vehicles are cleared quickly.
The transporters therefore urged the Chief Minister to intervene on an urgent basis and take special measures to restore the movement of loaded vehicles along NH-37.
Additional security forces sought
The first major request made by the council was for an increase in the number of security personnel escorting the convoys.
It urged the state government to augment the existing CRPF deployment by bringing in additional companies so that stranded trucks can be moved towards Imphal at a faster pace.
The council said additional escort capacity would help expedite the movement of loaded vehicles waiting in Jiribam and near the Assam border.
The organisation also proposed an alternative arrangement in case additional CRPF personnel could not be deployed.
It suggested that State forces, including the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Rifles (MR), could be utilised as a special measure to provide additional escort and assist in clearing the stranded loaded vehicles.
NHIDCL urged to repair damaged stretches
Along with additional security, the council has sought immediate intervention to address the condition of NH-37.
It urged the government to instruct the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to undertake road repairs on a war-footing basis.
The council specifically pointed to damaged and muddy stretches of the highway, saying their condition was slowing down and disrupting the movement of trucks.
According to the transporters, improving these stretches is essential for ensuring smooth and safe movement of vehicles and preventing further accumulation of trucks along the highway.
Council warns of deepening supply crisis
The council warned that failure to clear the existing backlog could result in an increasing number of stranded vehicles and further deterioration of the supply situation.
"If the stranded vehicles are cleared on priority, normal traffic can be restored," the council stated in its appeal.
It further cautioned that otherwise, the number of stranded trucks would continue to increase and the crisis could deepen.
The organisation assured the government of its cooperation in facilitating the movement of essential commodities during the current situation.
The appeal was signed by H. Rapfit Singh, president of the Transporters' and Drivers' Council, Manipur, and addressed to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
The request comes amid the continuing dependence of Manipur's supply chain on NH-37, one of the state's principal road links with the rest of the country.
The council has asked for coordinated action on both security and road infrastructure, arguing that increasing convoy protection without addressing severely damaged road stretches may not be sufficient to clear the backlog.
It has therefore called for additional escort forces and immediate road repairs to ensure that the more than 1,700 stranded loaded trucks can begin moving towards Imphal and supplies can reach the state without further delay.
