Public transport services along the Imphal–Dimapur–Guwahati route via NH-2 continued smoothly for the fifth consecutive day, with 268 passengers travelling from Imphal today.
A convoy of 19 vehicles, comprising five buses, five Winger vehicles and nine Scorpio/Bolero vehicles, departed Imphal at around 10:10 am.
Laishram Bhonilal, Joint Secretary of the Interstate Taxi Association, welcomed the initiative of the state government and Transport Department to restore road connectivity after several years of restricted travel due to the conflict. He said the resumption of services would benefit people across communities who had faced difficulties travelling by road.
Passengers also welcomed the service, particularly because of the high cost of air travel. Khoirom Binodini of Phubala, who was travelling to Kohima to visit her children, said she had previously travelled by air but found the fares unaffordable. She said travelling in a group by road gave her confidence.
Another passenger, Thangjam Brajakishor of Wangjing, said the restoration of road transport had brought significant relief to people who had been unable to travel freely for the past several years. He said a journey to Guwahati that previously cost him around Rs.8,000 by air could now be made for about Rs.1,000 by road.
He thanked the government and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh for the initiative and urged the authorities to extend road transport services to more routes and destinations.
