Lifeline Highways - 39 or 53?

Subhamenon (SM) Sanasam *

The state of Manipur is passed by four National highways- NH-39, NH-53, NH-150 and NH-155. NH-155 is not much important as it passes only a course of 20 km in the northern periphery of the state, through Jessami town of Manipur, connecting Meluri town of Nagaland to its capital town Kohima.

However the other three highways have their respective importance in the development of the state, socially, culturally, politically and economically. NH-39, and NH-53 are the two lifelines of Manipur, connecting Dimapur of Nagaland and Silchar of Assam respectively.

Due to the prevailing situation in the state, the question of lifeline highways have been striking in the mind of the general public of Manipur state, long forgotten NH-53 to replace the insurgency affected NH-39. This idea will be very much positive if a thorough comparison is made in between these two highways from the viewpoint of the People in Manipur.

1. NH-39 Imphal-Dimapur covers 210 km, about 160 km in hilly terrain. NH-53 Imphal-Jiribam covers 222 km, about 170km in hilly terrain. 39 follows the regional trend of the hill ranges and possible to follow same contour level in its course. 53 goes across the strike of the regional trend of the hill ranges, has to pass the hills and deeply cut streams and rivers, cannot follow same contour level.
2. 39 is easier in maintenance for natural hazards as number of landslide zone is less. 53 requires maintenance for larger bridges, more in number than that of 39.
3. 39 passes through District and sub-divisional headquarters as well as state capitals but 53 pass only sub-divisional headquarters. For the time being, road condition in 39 is better.
4. One half of the passage in 39 is not under the control of Manipur state, whereas whole of the passage in 53 is under the control of the Manipur state.
5. In 39, about 180 km of the passage is controlled by the outlaw activities and endpoint of the passage on the other side is controlled by alien. But in 53, only a passage of 50 km requires security patrol and both the endpoints are under the full control of our own people (Manipuri).
6. 39 is lifeline not only for Manipur but for the people of Nagaland also. It was clearly observed during the two month economic blocked by a section of thoughtless Nagas that economic activities in the highway 39, Mao-Dimapur section reduce to almost zero. Many hotels (fooding), and market places, small vendor shops are closed (except in Kohima). 53 is the sole lifeline of Manipuri people. Using 39 feeds the Nagamese but using 53 benefits our own people, the Manipuri, both valley and hill dwellers.
7. 39 use Dimapur as our transit point and have good transport connectivity with nearest major city Guwahati by NHs 39+37 and NHs 36+37, both runs in plain area. But road distance is approximately 330 km and 250 km respectively. However, the second option NHs 36+37 is not in use at present. Using 53 will make our own Jiribam as our transit point, only some 40 km away from Silchar, in plain road. Silchar-Guwahati via Shillong NHs 53+44 covers only some 260 km, though it runs in hilly terrains. A good percentage of population in Silchar-Jiribam section is also Manipuri.
8. Inhabitants along the 39 are mixed up of many Manipuri tribes and communities and some of them are well influence by the so called Naga outfit, posed themselves as Naga (even though not recognize by the mainland Nagas). But the majority of the inhabitants along 53 is our nearer brethren `Kabuis'. 70% of the Kabuis do not like to be Nagas, 20% do not give opinion, some 10% link with the Naga outfits. Around one hundred Kabui villages are in the valley for more than 300 years ago. They are not hill dwellers but valley dweller Manipuri. One half of the Manipuri Kabuis still follow their original Kabui religion, (a contradictory character of posing Naga). So using 53 is safer with respect to the present scenario.

1. Urgent action to improve the NH-53 road condition, not in the view of bargaining contract by Ministers and bureaucrats family, but honestly for the necessity of the public.
2. Construction of four lane bridges, by any means, over Irang, Barak, Makru and other streams on the highway 53 within a determined time (Mizoram govt. can construct a number of such bridges in Aizawl-Champhai Road, in a more difficult and inconvenient terrain).
3. To employ full manpower to expand the road into double lane. Can appeal, invite and accept voluntary assistance from NGOs, civil societies, and voluntary organizations for manpower and financial assistance. But only to work or manage honestly and transparently.
4. People would like to approach the State government to manage a shifting of all the Assam Rifles camps on the highway 53 into the border areas, to control the unlawful passage of the UG outfits, and their camps to be replaced by the IRB and Central forces or the Highway protection forces. (The reason is an open secret).
5. Immediate plan and action to construct guest house, rest house, store house, bus terminus, market sheds, and shopping centers at Jiribam.
6. Well equipped facilities for highway maintenance at Nungba, Noney, Keifundai, Jiribam etc. (The road is landslide prone in many places).
7. A full strength and high-tech equipped police stations at Nungba, Noney, and JIribam. (an approach to modernize the existing police stations to its maximum).
8. A special attention of the CM, concern ministers, and concern MLAs to the NH-53, with honesty and dedication.