Union threatens to surrender fleet over MST route plan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 12 2025: The Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Bus Owners' Welfare Union has declared that the fleet of all 22 passenger buses currently operating between Imphal and Kakching under various registered societies affiliated with the union will be surrendered to the state transport department if Manipur State Transport (MST) buses are forcibly deployed along the route.

Appealing to the transport department to drop the plan of operating MST buses along the Imphal-Kakching route, union general secretary Thounaojam Radheshyam stated that 22 passenger buses are currently providing daily service along the route starting from 5:30 am, the time allotted by the authority concerned.

Among these, some buses operate further to Chandel, Chakpikarong and Sugnu via Kakching.

He said that it would be unwise for the department to ply MST buses along this already congested route and appealed for reconsideration.

Addressing media persons at the union's office at Keishampat parking on Saturday, Radheshyam said that MST buses from Kakching Lamkhai to Imphal began operations specifically for students on October 9, 2023, following an understanding reached between the then transport minister and the union.

However, MST buses have been carrying passengers other than students, even though buses under the union have been providing transport for students as announced by the government.

As both MST and union buses run at the same timings, it has led to competition among buses to pick up passengers, thereby increasing the risk of road accidents, he said.

He also stated that the transport department has yet to respond to requests for rescheduling MST timings.

He warned that the union will have no other option but to surrender all 22 buses if the government insists on deploying MST buses along the route.

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