Nobody wants to,or seems able to,run a mass transit system in Manipur Though the need for transport connectivity to the Northeast is widely acknowledged,connectivity within the region is equally vital to its well-being. Towns need a robust transit infrastructure to facilitate easy movement,encourage trade and business,and strengthen civic links. In Manipur,political turmoil and the states weakness reinforce each other,and a sense of crisis pervades everyday living. Situated right at the end of the two highways to the region (NH-39 and NH-53),Manipur has often been choked off by road blockades. Goods trucks that come in from other states often have to pay a tax to underground groups. There has been no public transport in Imphal or indeed,in the state,for a decade now. The government has tried and given up on a corporation to manage mass transit,after running heavy losses,in 2003. While theres a director for transport,theres no dedicated department or corporation. After recently acquiring 11 semi-low floor buses from JNNURM funds,Manipur has also failed to find private firms to run and maintain the buses. If trains and buses running on time are shorthand for a powerful and efficient state,the lack of public transport in Manipur speaks of a challenge Chief Minister Ibobi Singh must urgently confront. As he begins his third consecutive term,the decisive mandate he recently won ensures political stability; arguably,he can also count on a friendly Centre. There can be no more alibis for failure.
