Kohima/Imphal, July 18 2010: Commercial activities along National Highway-39 is gradually resuming after a gap of more than two months of remaining in a state of comatose.

Food-joints and taxis have now started plying on NH-39 .

In the first week of May, food-joints had to down their shutters due to the impasse following the blockade imposed by ANSAM against the ADC election which was then intensified after the proposed visit of Thuingaleng Muivah to Manipur was opposed by the State Government.

Before the crisis broke out brisk business was going on in the Manipur section of NH-39 .

The food-joints in the Dimapur-Kohima section of NH-39 were also closed down which were mostly visited by the Manipur transporters.

However, some of these 'rice-hotels' are now seen operating again.

The 'rice-hotels' or food-joints at Tadubi too closed down during the peak of the agitation.

The Mao-Gate sale of seasonal fruits and vegetables and the numerous 'rice-hotels' were also badly affected due to the impasse.

However, business at the Nagaland-Manipur border town is gradually limping back to life.

'Rice hotels' are quite popular at the Mao-Gate and the transporters' main stop-over for their luncheon, both inward and outward travellers has been at this border town, a cool hill-top Mao tribe dominated location.

Though the normal business along the NH-39 will continue to get affected so long as the Manipur transporters' body decided to stay away from the national highway, it is not wrong to say that business is gearing up once again along the NH-39 after the two months impasse.

Regarding the pattern of commuting in the post-blockade along the NH-39, small and medium size passenger vehicles ply between Mao-Gate and Imphal.

Passengers coming to Imphal or going outside the State will find waiting vehicles the Mao-Gate town to ferry them, either to Dimapur or to Imphal.

This pattern of transportation has become necessary as the apex transporters' body of Manipur had resolved not to ply along the NH-39 again as long as the Government does not fulfill their demands.

Comment