Mizoram Transport Minister Vanlalhlana on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, flagged off two 21-seater passenger buses from the Transport Office premises in Chaltlang, formally reviving inter-state bus connectivity between Mizoram and Manipur — a route that had been severed by ethnic violence. Regular operations under the VK Tawna Inter-State Bus Service are scheduled to begin on 1 October, linking Sairang near Aizawl with Lamka in Manipur's Churachandpur district.

Service Details and Route

Two 21-seater buses will ply daily between Lamka in Manipur and Sairang in Mizoram, covering an estimated distance of approximately 360 km in roughly 12 hours. The fare has been fixed at ₹2,500 per passenger, and tickets are available for online booking through the VK Tawna Bus Service mobile application.

What Officials Said

Addressing the flagging-off ceremony, Minister Vanlalhlana underscored the importance of unity among the Zo kindred tribes — including Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals — residing across different hill regions, describing Mizoram as 'a central home for all kindred brethren.' He voiced deep concern over the travel hardships endured by community members due to the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur, expressing hope that the new service would 'significantly ease cross-border travel.'

H. Ginzalala, Chief Minister's Adviser (Technical) for Mizoram, stated at the event that 'robust connectivity across various sectors is among the most critical components of development.' He further observed that the ethnic crisis in Manipur had, paradoxically, 'strengthened the bond of solidarity between the Mizos in Mizoram and the Zo brethren in Manipur.'

Siamnunlian Valte briefed attendees on operational details, while R. Lalrammawia, Director of the Mizoram Transport Department, outlined the regulatory and logistical framework governing the inter-state route.

Background: Ethnic Violence and Connectivity Crisis

Inter-state bus services in the region were disrupted following the outbreak of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur on 3 May 2023. The conflict rendered two of Manipur's critical national highway lifelines — the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway (NH-2) — effectively impassable for regular passenger services, isolating communities on both sides of the state border.

Broader Resumption of Services

This development follows a broader, partial restoration of connectivity in the region. Bus services along NH-2 between Manipur, Assam, and Nagaland had already resumed on 21 August, after a gap of more than three years. The Mizoram-Manipur corridor now adds another thread to a slowly rebuilding network. Notably, both corridors had remained suspended well beyond the immediate period of conflict, reflecting the prolonged displacement and security concerns that have defined the crisis.

The resumption of the Sairang-Lamka service is being framed by Mizoram officials not merely as a logistical milestone but as a gesture of inter-community solidarity — a signal that civilian life, connectivity, and brotherhood can be incrementally restored even as a political resolution to the Manipur conflict remains elusive.