Maram-Peren road in distress
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16 2025: The Maram-Peren road, which has been serving as an alternate route to bring goods and supplies to Manipur after the Phesama landslide in Nagaland, has deteriorated considerably.

The 293-km stretch of National Highway 129-A, from Imphal to Dimapur via Maram-Peren, Jalukie, and Jhamapani, is reportedly in disrepair, with no one seemingly responsible for its maintenance.

Moreover, the repair work on the Mao-Kohima-Dimapur route, which was disrupted due to incessant rainfall on June 1, remains incomplete.

The Principal Secretary (Works) announced on July 2 that the Maram-Peren road and Kohima-Jessami-Ukhrul route would serve as alternate routes.

Transporters, on the other hand, are being advised to use only six-wheeled trucks on the bypass road connecting Kohirna, Chakhabama, Kidima, and Mao.

In connection with this development, representatives of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union (AMRTD&MWU), Surface Transport Hill Areas Drivers Welfare Union and Senapati District Drivers' Welfare Union (SDDWU) inspected the condition of Maram-Peren road.

Speaking to the media, AMRTD&MWU secretary Maimom Anil stated that National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) remains closed to vehicular traffic due to the landslide at Phesama.

He said that the dilapidated Maram-Peren route is causing significant delays.

Normally, a trip from Dimapur to Imphal should take a day or two, but due to the route's condition, it takes 5-6 days, he said and added that NHIDCL is responsible for overseeing maintenance work on National Highway 129-A.Saying that the worst part of the road is situated approximately 16 km from Maram, he noted that CRCN, a company sub-contracted by NHIDCL, is supposed to be working on this section.

However, during inspection, neither CRCN nor NHIDCL personnel or machinery were present at the site, he said.

Anil further stated that they witnessed drivers pushing their trucks through the worst stretches of the road, without any assistance from machinery.

Saying that the bypass road (Kohima-Chakhabama-Kidima-Mao) is only accessible to six-wheeled trucks, he urged NHIDCL to prioritise repairs on the Maram-Peren road.

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