Yumnam Khemchand Singh lauds Senapati communities for restoring free movement along NH-2 and boosting the state economy.
IMPHAL — Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has lauded the people of Maram, Tadubi and Mao in Senapati district for their cooperation in restoring free movement along National Highway-2 (NH-2), a vital transport link connecting Imphal with Dimapur and Guwahati, saying the resumption has boosted the state’s economy.
Addressing the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at Tadubi, around 100 km north of Imphal, on Thursday, Khemchand said the crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, had severely affected Manipur’s economy.
He estimated that the state had incurred revenue losses of around INR 1,200 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections between 2023 and 2026.
The Chief Minister said bandhs and blockades had also adversely affected daily-wage earners and students across the state. NH-2, which connects Manipur with Nagaland and the rest of the country, remained disrupted amid the prolonged conflict and subsequent blockades.
The Imphal–Dimapur–Guwahati bus services resumed on August 21 this year after a gap of nearly three years, marking a significant step towards restoring connectivity.
Emphasising the need for peace and reconciliation, Khemchand said differences among communities could be resolved through dialogue. Recalling the Manipuri-Burmese War, he said 36 communities had cooperated with the then kings of Manipur to resist and drive away the Burmese army, safeguarding the state.
He urged all communities to work collectively towards common goals, expressing concern that Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis were increasingly reluctant to identify themselves as Manipuris.
He said people should first identify themselves as Indians and then as Manipuris to help the state move towards peace.
Khemchand said he had personally decided to attend the programme at Tadubi as the Assembly constituency had remained vacant following the death of former minister N Kayisii in 2025.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the country, Khemchand said India had risen from the 11th-largest economy in the world before Modi became Prime Minister to the fourth-largest economy.
He said the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan was being organised across the country to mark Modi’s 25 years of public service and promote the spirit of public service and good governance.
Former Senapati Autonomous District Council chairman A Kapani said the Tadubi Assembly constituency had faced numerous difficulties in the absence of an elected representative.
He also appreciated the Chief Minister’s efforts to facilitate free movement along NH-2.
During the programme, Khemchand distributed benefits under various government schemes to eligible beneficiaries in the district.
The president of the Mao Union, Tadubi, also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.