Imphal, September 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur on September 13 to launch and inaugurate development projects worth Rs 8,500 crore, officials confirmed on Thursday. The visit will mark his first trip to the state since the ethnic violence between Kukis and Meiteis broke out in May 2023, which claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands of people.
According to officials, Modi will begin his programme at Peace Ground in Churachandpur, a Kuki-majority district that has been at the epicentre of the conflict, where he will lay foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 7,300 crore. Later in the day, the Prime Minister will move to Kangla Fort in Imphal, the Meitei-dominated capital, where he will inaugurate completed infrastructure works valued at over Rs 1,200 crore and address a large public gathering.
Government sources said that the itinerary has been planned carefully to reflect outreach to both Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. By engaging in Churachandpur and Imphal—the symbolic and emotional centres of the two groups—the Prime Minister is expected to send a message of neutrality, balancing optics with the Centre’s assurance that it remains equally concerned about the humanitarian and political crisis but is not taking sides.
Officials also indicated that Modi is likely to meet families displaced by the violence during his brief visit and may announce rehabilitation packages, raising hopes of steps towards healing and reconciliation.
The projects scheduled for inauguration and foundation laying span multiple sectors. They include working women’s hostels, initiatives under the PM DeVine scheme, Manipur Infotech Development projects, Manipur Bhavan facilities in Delhi and Kolkata, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and works under the Smart City Mission. These projects are expected to benefit both hill and valley districts, officials added.
Large hoardings have already been put up across Imphal and Churachandpur announcing the Prime Minister’s visit. Security arrangements are being tightened, with additional deployment of central forces in sensitive areas to ensure smooth conduct of the programme.
