Manipur CM flags high airfares as inter-state bus services resume on NH-2
Synopsis
For the first time since ethnic violence paralysed Manipur in May 2023, inter-state buses are running again on NH-2 — and over 200 passengers made the Imphal–Guwahati journey incident-free on Day 2. With airfares still punishingly high, the bus route's survival is both a logistical lifeline and a fragile test of how far peace has actually travelled.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh flagged high Imphal–Guwahati airfares and said resumed bus services on NH-2 will provide critical relief.
Inter-state bus services restarted on 21 August ; more than 200 passengers travelled incident-free on the second consecutive day, 22 August .
The fleet comprised four buses and six Winger vehicles , passing through Kangpokpi and Senapati districts without disruption.
Road strengthening in Wabagai Assembly Constituency completed within six months at ₹5 crore ; a new ₹10 crore proposal is under consideration.
Wabagai Higher Secondary School in Kakching District received upgraded Physics, Chemistry, and Biology labs plus separate student toilets under Samagra Shiksha Manipur.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday, 22 August said the resumption of inter-state passenger bus services would provide significant relief to residents burdened by high airfares on the Imphal–Guwahati route, particularly students enrolled in institutions outside the state and patients travelling for medical treatment. The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing a gathering at Wabagai Higher Secondary School in Kakching District, where he inaugurated infrastructure strengthening works under the Samagra Shiksha Manipur programme.
Bus Services Resume After Ethnic Crisis Disruption
Public transport services along the Imphal–Dimapur (Nagaland)–Guwahati National Highway (NH-2) resumed on Friday, 21 August, following sustained government efforts to restore peace and normalcy after the unprecedented ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023. The Chief Minister confirmed that services ran smoothly for a second consecutive day on Saturday, with no untoward incident reported along the route.
According to a senior Manipur Transport Department official, more than 200 passengers travelled from Imphal in a fleet of four buses and six Winger vehicles, passing through Kangpokpi — a predominantly Kuki-inhabited district — and Senapati, a Naga-inhabited district, without incident. This comes amid more than three years of ethnic strife that has severely disrupted daily life and livelihoods, especially for daily wage earners across the state.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing the school gathering, Chief Minister Khemchand Singh acknowledged the immense hardships the ethnic crisis had inflicted on people across Manipur. He noted that the resumption of public transport was a direct outcome of the government's continuous peace-restoration efforts. He also recalled his earlier visit to Wabagai Higher Secondary School in May 2023 — shortly after the violence began — and observed that the institution had undergone considerable positive change since then.
Singh further stated that road strengthening works within the Wabagai Assembly Constituency had been completed within six months at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. A new proposal for additional road strengthening, estimated at approximately ₹10 crore, has been received and is under consideration.
School Infrastructure Upgraded
The Chief Minister inspected newly constructed facilities at Wabagai Higher Secondary School, which now includes dedicated Physics, Chemistry, and Biology laboratories, as well as separate toilets for boys and girls. Officials said the upgrades are expected to provide students with a more conducive learning environment.
Local MLA of Wabagai Assembly Constituency, Dr Usham Deben Singh, acknowledged that development in the constituency had been stalled by the ethnic violence that has persisted for over three years. He announced that a bridge under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) would be completed soon under the Chief Minister's guidance.
The inauguration was attended by Angeline Renita R., Deputy Commissioner of Kakching District; Chief Engineer, Education (School), Y. Bhouchou Singh; along with students and teachers. As Manipur cautiously moves toward normalcy, the uninterrupted passage of buses on NH-2 will be closely watched as a barometer of ground-level stability.
Point of View
But two incident-free days do not a peace dividend make. Manipur's ethnic fault lines — Kuki-inhabited Kangpokpi, Naga-inhabited Senapati — run directly through the route, and the government's framing of 'normalcy' rides on continued restraint from all sides. The high-airfare problem is real and long-standing, but it is a symptom: the deeper issue is that over three years of conflict have severed the state's road connectivity and economic arteries. Whether bus services hold beyond a few weeks, or whether a fresh flashpoint forces another shutdown, will be the true measure of how much ground the peace effort has actually covered.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Manipur's inter-state bus services stop in the first place?
Bus services were disrupted following the outbreak of ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023, which severely restricted movement along key highways including NH-2. The conflict caused widespread hardship, particularly for daily wage earners, students, and patients needing to travel outside the state.
Which route have the inter-state buses resumed on?
Services have resumed on the Imphal–Dimapur (Nagaland)–Guwahati route along National Highway (NH-2). The route passes through Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, both of which were affected by the ethnic conflict.
How many passengers used the service on the second day?
More than 200 passengers travelled from Imphal on Saturday, 22 August, in a fleet of four buses and six Winger vehicles, according to a senior Manipur Transport Department official. No untoward incident was reported.
Why is the bus service resumption particularly important for students and patients?
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh specifically highlighted that high airfares on the Imphal–Guwahati route have placed a heavy financial burden on students studying outside the state and residents travelling for medical treatment. The bus service offers a far more affordable alternative.
What infrastructure work was inaugurated alongside the CM's announcement?
Chief Minister Khemchand Singh inaugurated strengthening works at Wabagai Higher Secondary School in Kakching District under Samagra Shiksha Manipur. The school now has Physics, Chemistry, and Biology laboratories and separate toilets for boys and girls.
