Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport and TCI) and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, chaired a meeting with representatives of various Transport and Drivers’ Associations of Manipur today at the Forest Headquarters, Imphal, to discuss key challenges affecting the State’s transport sector and the reforms needed to strengthen it.
Bajpai appreciated the participation of a large number of transporters from both valley and hill districts, inviting them to become partners in the Government’s initiative to enhance Manipur’s transport infrastructure. The meeting was attended by K. Diana Devi, Director (Transport); David Elangbam, Joint Secretary (Transport); Samson Huidrom, Deputy Director; Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic); and District Transport Officers from various districts.
During the interaction, Bajpai underscored the critical role of a robust transport network in driving economic growth and emphasized the urgent need to operationalize the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), regularize bus routes, streamline permit renewals, address parking constraints in urban areas, and implement measures to decongest Imphal city from heavy vehicles during peak hours. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring affordable and regular bus services connecting every district.
Representatives from the Transport and Drivers’ Associations highlighted several concerns, including the lack of facilitation points along highways, insufficient parking facilities for trucks, absence of welfare measures for drivers, and non-availability of weigh stations and pollution-checking centres at Mao, Jiribam, and Moreh. They also raised issues related to poor highway conditions caused by overloaded trucks, as well as business losses suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ethnic unrest of 2023–24. The Senapati Truck Owners’ Association specifically requested the development of a by-pass road connecting Senapati to Nagaland, which is currently being maintained by local villagers and truck operators.
Responding to the concerns, Bajpai directed officials to identify suitable sites for dedicated, gated parking zones for commercial and passenger vehicles at Mao and along Jiribam Road, and to expedite the development of the Sekmai parking area. He further instructed that barracks, toilets, and cooking facilities for truck drivers be developed at parking locations, and emphasized the need to assess the feasibility of an Inter-State Truck Terminal (ISTT) to improve goods movement.
Bajpai also called for exploring private investment opportunities in establishing weighing bridges along National Highways to ensure road safety and prevent overloading-related accidents. Additionally, he advised officials to consider reasonable waivers in the renewal of vehicle permits, fitness certifications, and related penalties to ease operational challenges faced by transporters.
Expressing concern over the absence of some invited associations, Bajpai remarked that broader participation would have facilitated a more comprehensive dialogue. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a responsive and inclusive approach in addressing operational, livelihood, and welfare issues of transport owners and drivers, underscoring that a strengthened transport sector is vital to Manipur’s economic revival.
