Imphal, once imagined as a steadily growing capital with aspirations of smart city status, today finds itself brought to its knees by something as basic as its roads. From the heart of the city to its expanding outskirts, the condition of the roads tells a story of civic neglect and misplaced priorities. It is no longer just an inconvenience; it has become an ordeal that affects the daily life, mental health, and livelihood of thousands who must navigate these treacherous stretches every single day.
Take a drive — or at least attempt to — through Konung Mamang, Keishamthong, Yaiskul, Moirangkhom, Khuyathong or even within the premises of DM College. The story is the same: crater-like potholes big enough to damage vehicles, waterlogged stretches where potholes hide like traps, and broken tarmac that turns a short ride into a back-breaking mission. One could argue that roads in the outskirts are bound to be in poor condition due to neglect, but the sad truth is that even roads in the core areas, which house important institutions and see constant traffic, have been reduced to rubble and puddles.
Two-wheeler riders, who form the backbone of daily commuters in Imphal, are perhaps the worst affected. Navigating these roads on a scooter or motorbike has become a gamble with injury. One wrong move, one hidden pothole, one sudden brake, and a rider can find themselves skidding into sludge or colliding with another desperate commuter trying to avoid the same hazard. For cars, the roads are no less destructive — punctured tyres, broken suspensions, and rising maintenance costs have become routine.
This crumbling infrastructure is more than a question of bad driving experience. It is about the daily risks people must take just to reach work, school, markets, or hospitals. Students at DM College, for example, have to brave broken internal roads riddled with deep pits, often waterlogged after the slightest rain. It is humiliating to think that in a city which boasts of digital connectivity and ambitious plans for urban development, our basic roads have been left to rot.
Government agencies and contractors cannot wash their hands of this mess by blaming heavy rainfall or “ongoing projects.” How many more years will people hear the same excuses? Drainage planning is non-existent or faulty, resulting in water collecting in potholes, further weakening the road surface. Poor quality materials, half-hearted repairs, and lack of accountability have made these so-called repairs short-lived jokes.
It is shameful that city roads in such prime areas continue to deteriorate while funds meant for infrastructure repair are announced every other budget session. Where does this money go? How many times do these roads need to be “inaugurated” and “repaired”? Accountability is missing, and the people pay the price every single day — in vehicle repair bills, in hospital visits, and in wasted time and fuel.
It is high time the government acknowledges that this is not merely about roads — it is about respect for its citizens. Roads connect people to education, employment, health care, and community life. They are a measure of governance. Poor roads reflect poor leadership. Until those responsible face consequences — contractors blacklisted, officials held answerable, repair timelines fixed and met — we will remain trapped in this endless cycle of potholes and promises.
The roads of Imphal are in a terrible state. That is not an observation anymore; it is an indictment. The city deserves better — and its people must demand it, louder than ever.