IMPHAL, Nov 13: In a major infrastructure boost, the Centre has earmarked ₹12,000 crore to upgrade Manipur’s road network by 2027, with several key national highway projects already underway.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta on Wednesday said that 747 kilometres of the 1,774-kilometre national highway network in Manipur have been upgraded and blacktopped, while many single-lane stretches have been widened to two lanes. The remaining 332 kilometres are expected to be completed by the 2026–27 financial year.
Addressing the media in Imphal, Tamta said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is currently implementing 51 project packages covering 11 national highways through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the state’s Public Works Department.
Despite delays caused by land acquisition and forest clearance issues in 35 project packages, the minister assured that NHIDCL has refocused efforts to meet deadlines. He highlighted that major corridors such as Imphal–Jiribam (NH-37), Yaingangpokpi–Finch Corner (NH-202), Tamenglong–Mahur (NH-137), Churachandpur–Tuivai, and Maram–Peren are slated for completion by 2025–26.
Calling the Imphal–Jiribam highway the state’s “economic lifeline,” Tamta said that 152 kilometres have already been blacktopped, and the entire stretch will be completed by the next financial year.
He also announced that NHIDCL is preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for new alignments, including a 262-kilometre Churachandpur–Tipaimukh (NH-02) road and a 57.91-kilometre greenfield alignment from Mao to Senapati. A 658-kilometre Indo–Myanmar border road project is under feasibility assessment and is likely to be designated as a new national highway.
Three key routes linking Manipur and Nagaland—Ukhrul to Jessami (156 km), Mao to Imphal (97 km), and Maram to Peren (104 km)—are being upgraded to two-lane standards, while a four-lane greenfield alignment between Mao and Senapati is being developed to enhance interstate connectivity.
Tamta added that the DPR for the Imphal–Moirang four-laning project is in the final stages of approval with the state government.
Earlier in the day, the minister visited Pherzawl district, where he reviewed various central and state development projects with officials, including Deputy Commissioner Mannuam Ching and Tipaimukh MLA Ngursanglur Sanate. He also inspected the community health centre at Parbung and chaired a review meeting on schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (PM-FME).
