The Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) has urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to order an immediate inquiry into the execution of the National Highway-37 project by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, alleging poor construction quality, prolonged delays and lack of proper supervision. In a memorandum submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the council expressed concern over the worsening condition of the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of NH-37, describing several portions of the highway as nearly unmotorable, particularly during the monsoon. It said that despite years of construction work and substantial public expenditure, many sections of the highway have shown little improvement. According to the TDC, the poor condition of the road has led to frequent vehicle breakdowns, longer travel times, road accidents and heavy financial losses for transport operators. The council also alleged that inadequate monitoring of construction work has contributed to landslides at several locations during the rainy season, leaving both loaded and empty vehicles stranded in areas vulnerable to security and law-and-order problems.
The organisation further claimed that NHIDCL had subcontracted major portions of the project to multiple contractors without sufficient oversight, resulting in poor workmanship and inadequate accountability. It questioned the utilisation of public funds and demanded a time-bound investigation by an independent high-level committee, along with technical and financial audits of the project. Describing NH-37 as Manipur’s second lifeline, the TDC said the highway plays a crucial role in maintaining the state’s supply chain and transport network. It stated that the deteriorating road condition has caused vehicle damage, transport delays, accidents, financial losses and incidents of looting by miscreants. The council also urged the ministry to fix responsibility and take action against any officials or contractors found guilty of negligence or misuse of public funds. It sought public disclosure of the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR), fund release status and physical progress to improve transparency.
The TDC further requested immediate repair of the worst-affected stretches of the highway under strict quality monitoring and warned that it would launch democratic protests if its demands were not addressed. NHIDCL had not issued any response to the allegations at the time of filing the memorandum.
