The CRPF has deployed dual security escorts for the fleet, significantly exceeding the usual convoy capacity of around 150 vehicles under a single escort
KRC TIMES Manipur Bureau
Imphal | The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has expanded security arrangements for the movement of essential supplies along the Jiribam-Imphal route, deploying additional escorts for a convoy of 424 loaded trucks and fuel tankers amid a continuing transport crisis.
The convoy travelling from Jiribam to Imphal along National Highway-37 comprises 400 trucks carrying essential commodities and 24 fuel tankers. The CRPF has deployed dual security escorts for the fleet, significantly exceeding the usual convoy capacity of around 150 vehicles under a single escort.
The move comes after 381 loaded vehicles that had departed Jiribam on August 11 reached Imphal safely on Thursday evening.
However, the movement of vehicles in the reverse direction has remained slow. A separate security escort assigned to 271 empty trucks was yet to reach Jiribam within the expected timeframe, adding to the backlog of vehicles along the route.
The enhanced security deployment follows growing pressure from transporters and drivers over prolonged disruptions on NH-37.
The Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) had earlier issued an ultimatum to the state government following the death of a stranded driver in Jiribam. The council warned that if authorities failed to clear the backlog, transporters would begin moving trucks in batches of 500, with or without official security escorts.
TDC president Hijam Ranjit welcomed the increased security deployment but said escorts alone would not resolve the transport crisis. He urged the state government to direct the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to undertake urgent repairs on damaged stretches of NH-37.
According to Ranjit, large potholes and severely damaged sections of the highway continue to slow down vehicle movement despite the additional security arrangements. He said repairing the vulnerable stretches was essential to reduce travel time and restore the regular movement of essential commodities and fuel to Imphal.
The Jiribam-Imphal corridor remains a critical supply route for Manipur, and prolonged disruption has placed additional pressure on the movement of essential goods into the state. The latest security measures are aimed at facilitating the movement of stranded and loaded vehicles while road repairs remain a key concern for transporters.
