Government negligence on Mayai Lambi Road inflict Rs. 1.02 crore annual ‘Pothole Tax’ on commuters

A mere 9-kilometre stretch of the Mayai Lambi (NH-137A) from Keishampat Junction to Hiyangthang has become a glaring example of the government’s failure to maintain crucial road infrastructure. Crippled with potholes and cracks, this section records an International Roughness Index (IRI) of nearly 8 m/km, making it one of the worst-performing stretches by global standards.
The consequences of this neglect are being borne directly by ordinary families. Based on projections from Census data, nearly 17,200 households across Mongsangei, Langthabal, Hiyangthang, Samurou, Wangoi, and Mayang Imphal depend on this road. Of these, around 3,440 households own vehicles and commute daily, with 80 percent relying on two-wheelers and the rest on four-wheelers.
According to calculations using the World Bank’s Highway Development and Management Model (HDM-4), poor road conditions increase fuel consumption by 10–15% and raise vehicle maintenance costs by 20–40%. In practical terms, this translates into an additional 68,000 litres of fuel wasted annually, costing commuters Rs.68 lakh at today’s prices. Added to this is a staggering Rs. 34.4 lakh in extra maintenance costs for tires, brakes, and suspensions — an unnecessary financial strain caused purely by neglect.
Altogether, families using this stretch shoulder a hidden ‘pothole tax’ of Rs. 1.02 crore every year. This is money taken directly out of household budgets, eroding savings meant for children’s education, healthcare, and other essentials. Importantly, these figures account only for direct vehicle operating costs. The wider impacts — ranging from dust-related health problems to productivity loss and a drag on the state’s GDP — remain uncalculated but are undoubtedly severe.

Experts point out that this silent economic drain could have been easily avoided. Studies by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) show that every Rs.1 spent on road maintenance saves road users Rs. 3–5 in operating costs. In this case, an annual investment of just Rs.20–30 lakh in timely maintenance could have prevented these losses, generating huge economic returns for the community.
What makes the situation even more alarming is that the “pothole tax” figure is not an official government estimate but a rough calculation by affected citizens using publicly available data. If the government were to conduct a proper assessment for the entire NH-137A, the total losses to households across the state would be far higher.
Local residents and experts alike are demanding urgent action. They argue that the government cannot continue to ignore the economic burden created by its own negligence. Repairing and maintaining this vital section of Mayai Lambi is not just about road safety, but about ending a systematic financial drain that punishes citizens for no fault of their own.