Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service runs smooth for second day on NH-2
Synopsis
For the first time in over three years, buses are running smoothly between Imphal, Dimapur, and Guwahati — and doing so two days in a row. The incident-free passage through Kangpokpi and Senapati, the most volatile stretches of NH-2, is the clearest sign yet that Manipur's fractured road connectivity may finally be on the mend.
Key Takeaways
Inter-state bus services on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route ran smoothly for a second consecutive day on 22 August .
200+ passengers travelled on Saturday in four buses and six Winger vehicles from ISBT Khuman Lampak , Imphal.
The 125 inaugural passengers from Friday safely reached Guwahati on Saturday morning.
Services had been suspended since the Meitei-Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict erupted on 3 May 2023 — a gap of over three years .
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen jointly announced the resumption on 8 August in Kangpokpi.
The restored service benefits students, patients, traders , and daily commuters connecting Manipur with Assam and Nagaland.
Inter-state bus services along the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway (NH-2) completed a second consecutive smooth run on Saturday, 22 August, with more than 200 passengers travelling from Imphal without any untoward incident, according to a senior Manipur Transport Department official. The development marks a significant milestone in the state's push to restore normalcy after over three years of ethnic conflict-driven disruption.
Day Two Operations
A fleet of four buses and six Winger vehicles departed from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak in Imphal on Saturday morning. The vehicles passed without incident through Kangpokpi, a predominantly Kuki-inhabited district, and Senapati, a Naga-inhabited district — two of the most sensitive stretches along NH-2.
In a related development, the 125 passengers who had undertaken the inaugural journey on Friday, 21 August, safely reached Guwahati earlier on Saturday, completing the route without disruption.
Background: Three Years of Disruption
The Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service had remained suspended since the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities on 3 May 2023. NH-2 and the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) are the two primary road lifelines connecting Manipur with the rest of the country. Frequent blockades and law-and-order breakdowns along NH-2 had severely restricted the movement of people and essential commodities between Manipur and neighbouring northeastern states for more than three years.
This is the first full resumption of inter-state passenger bus services linking Manipur, Assam, and Nagaland since that crisis began.
Political Push Behind the Resumption
The restoration was set in motion on 8 August in Kangpokpi district, when Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and local MLA Haokholet Kipgen jointly announced the reopening of the national highways for free movement of people from all communities, alongside the revival of the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service.
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh on Friday urged residents to use government transport services without fear, noting that high airfares between Imphal and Guwahati amounted to, in his words, 'a kind of punishment for the people of the state.'
Who Benefits and What Comes Next
The restored service is expected to ease movement for students, patients, traders, employees, and other travellers who depend on road connectivity between Manipur and its neighbouring states. Officials said the smooth passage through sensitive zones on both Friday and Saturday has boosted confidence in sustaining regular operations.
The public response has been widely positive, according to the Transport Department, with residents welcoming the restoration of the inter-state link. Continued incident-free runs will be closely watched as a barometer of ground-level stability along NH-2.
Point of View
But they do not yet constitute a trend. The Manipur ethnic conflict has repeatedly produced brief windows of calm that closed without warning, and the political symbolism of a joint Meitei-Kuki leadership appearance in Kangpokpi on 8 August, while significant, does not resolve the underlying grievances that have kept the highway volatile since May 2023. The real test will come when the service faces its first provocation — a protest, a blockade attempt, or a security incident — and whether the state machinery holds the corridor open regardless. Until then, 'smooth for two days' is a necessary but insufficient proof of normalcy.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus service fully resumed?
Yes, inter-state bus services on the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati route via NH-2 resumed on 21 August and completed a second incident-free run on 22 August. The service had been suspended for over three years following the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023.
Why was the NH-2 bus service suspended for so long?
The service was suspended after ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities erupted on 3 May 2023, leading to frequent blockades and law-and-order breakdowns along NH-2. The highway is one of Manipur's two primary road links to the rest of the country.
Who announced the resumption of the Imphal-Guwahati bus service?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, and local MLA Haokholet Kipgen jointly announced the reopening of the national highways and revival of the bus service on 8 August in Kangpokpi district.
Which districts does the NH-2 bus route pass through?
The route passes through Kangpokpi, a predominantly Kuki-inhabited district, and Senapati, a Naga-inhabited district — both considered sensitive areas. Vehicles departed from the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Khuman Lampak in Imphal.
Who benefits from the restored inter-state bus service?
Students, patients, traders, employees, and other travellers who depend on road connectivity between Manipur and neighbouring Assam and Nagaland are the primary beneficiaries. The Chief Minister also noted that high airfares between Imphal and Guwahati had effectively penalised residents during the suspension.
