NEFTU takes short-cut bypass case to Bhalla
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04 2025: The North East Federation of Trade Union (NEFTU) has sought the Governor's attention to repairing and maintenance of a short-cut bypass road from Mao to Chakhabama, Nagaland.

A delegation of NEFTU today went to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla seeking financial assistance and collaboration with the Government of Nagaland for repairing and maintenance of the short-cut bypass.

The NEFTU delegates talked with the Governor for over 30 minutes on the matter.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting at the Raj Bhavan gate, NEFTU legal advisor and Manipur Drivers' Association (MDA) general secretary Sanjay Kshetrimayum said that a huge landslide cut of NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur highway) at Phesama, Kohima on May 31, 2025.Since then, transportation of essential commodities to Manipur has been severely affected, he said.

After the highway was rendered impassable by the extensive landslide, NEFTU and its member organisations particularly Manipur Drivers' Association, Senapati District Truck Owners' Association, Senapati District Truck Drivers' Union, Manipur Gurkha Motor Workers' Welfare Union, Dimapur District Truck Owners' Welfare Union and Kohima District Truck Drivers' and Owners' Association took the initiative to repair a short-cut bypass between Mao and Chakhabama via Kedema (Nagaland).

The bypass spans 27 Kms including 9 Kms in Manipur and 18 Kms in Nagaland, and NEFTU has been repairing this bypass for the past one month, Sanjay said.

While NEFTU has been working hard to repair the bypass for the past one month, the Principal Secretary (Works), Government of Manipur issued a statement a few days back claiming that the Government has been repairing the particular road.

This is rather surprising, he remarked.

"During the meeting with the Governor, we expressed strong disapproval against the press note issued by the Principal Secretary (Works)", he said.

Sanjay said that MLA Losii Dikho helped in repairing the 9 Kms long Manipur section of the bypass with heavy machinery and manpower.

It is rather surprising and unfortunate that the Principal Secretary (Works) has the audacity to claim it is the State PWD which has been repairing the bypass while the actual work is done by NEFTU, the NEFTU legal advisor remarked.

"Pointing out that Phesama (Nagaland) is quite vulnerable to landslides and landslides are a regular occurrence at Phesama, we urged the Governor to take the matter of developing the IVR from Mao to Chakhabama at least to the level of a State Highway with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways", he said.

Talking about the memorandum they submitted to the Governor, Sanjay said that the Peren Road which connects Manipur to Nagaland is much longer and its large sections are uninhabited.

Thus it poses severe risks to movement of trucks and other goods carriers, he said.

Moreover, Peren Road is 100 Kms longer than Imphal-Dimapur highway, he added.

The shortest route between Manipur and Nagaland is the Mao-Chakhabama bypass.

As such, the Governor was requested to provide necessary financial assistance to complete the repairing work and develop the bypass road as a viable route, he said.

The repairing work which includes removal of debris, levelling the road surface and strengthening the road structure, has been progressing steadily.

However, NEFTU's resources are now almost depleted and there is an urgent need for additional funding to complete the remaining work and ensure long-term sustainability of the road, said the memorandum.

Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla assured the NEFTU representatives that he would take up necessary measures and provide all possible assistance.

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