Locals of Thumbuthong and Thangapat area in Imphal East today begin indefinite road blockade at Thumbuthong area demanding immediate repairing of the road stretch between Thumbuthong and Palace Compound as well as road stretch between Thumbuthong and Wangkhei leading through Thangapat. A committee called Thangapat Lambi demand committee (TLDC) has been formed and volunteers of the committee today staged a sit-in-protest in the middle of the road preventing all sorts of vehicular movement along the route.
Local MLA E Chand visited the protest site and appealed them to withdraw the agitation as the government is in no position to repair the said portion of work due to financial constrain. The MLA however asserted to fill the potholes, which was flatly denied by the local agitators.
Speaking to media persons a member of the Thangapat lambi demand committee, said that after the government failure to complete the Sanjenthong Bridge on time, the road stretch has been serving as the only route to connect the Imphal East and Imphal West other than Minuthong. The volume of traffic was very high and the need to keep the road motorable is the need of the hour as the road may be crowded once more with the coming of the Sangai Festival once again. He further added that the volume of traffic along the route may be triple if the Sanjenthong failed to complete before the Sangai Festival. He warns the government of more intensified agitation if the government failed to repair the road at the earliest possible time.