~ Haokholala Thangjom
Kei kiduna chellega Sawom oknagalli: Meetei Proverb

Tweedledee and Tweedledum means, Two almost indistinguishable character or things There was only one National Highway No: 39 in Manipur. Our political gurus or mandarins in Delhi used to call our state’ the Jewel of India” or “Kashmir of the East”. Yes, ironically it is Kashmir in terms of grave law and order and political situation reflected by abysmal hardship of the people. The above named National Highway links Imphal or Manipur with its neighboring state Nagaland in the north and Myanmar in the east.

Way back in 1981, I was “unlucky” to have a premonition of what is happening today. I submitted a
memorandum to N.D. Tiwari, who was the Union Minister of Planning on the 18th March 1981 when he visited Manipur to have a second national Highway as National Highway No: 39 was the only arterial road in the state. To be precise, I suggested upgrading the existing Imphal-Churachandpur-Tipaimukh-Seling-Aizawl Road to the status of the National Highway. He was in favour of upgrading Imphal-Nungba-Jiribam-Silchar Road. He hastened to add, ‘We can have three National Highways in the state’. My reply was that it would take time though it sounds very nice. To strengthen my suggestion I laid down seven points and inter alia, the two salient points were, first, from a logistic point of view; it would serve the purpose of international border defense. Secondly, it would serve the interest of Kuki-Mizo people in the states of Manipur and Mizoram. (No National Highway runs in the periphery or close to the international boundary). In addition, it will become another arterial or life-line for the entire Manipur.

The existing National Highways, No: 39 and 53 have already linked Manipur with the neighbouring states of Nagaland and Assam and it is reasonable and proper to have a National Highway which will link Manipur with its neighbouring state of Mizoram in the south. Ultimately, my proposal was accepted by the Central government and it was declared as National Highway No: 150 on the 6th January 1999 after 18 years lapsed since I submitted my memorandum to N.D. Tiwari and the Border Road Organisation was entrusted to construct the road.

Unfortunately the work could not be taken up due to insurgency problem and the B.R.O. demanded one
battalion of security force, B.S.F or C.R.P.F. Imphal to Churachandpur is 62 km, Churachandpur to
Tipaimukh is 262 k.m and Tipaimukh to Aizawl is 114 k.m. The total length from Imphal to Aizawl is 438 k.m.

About nine years back, in the editorial of the Naharolgi Thoudang Daily on the 16th July 2001 it was flashed, ‘National Highway No : 53 da Thengnasi, National Highway No :39 Thinglasi’. I countered the editorial in the issue of the Poknapham on the 2nd August 2001. It was followed up by a write-up, ‘Lack of security force may throw a spanner to National Highway No: 150 in the Sangai Express. To counter National Highway No: 39 by the National Highway No: 53 can be avoided if the National Highway No: 150 is given due importance by the government. National Highways No: 39 and No: 53 may be linked to Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the two almost indistinguishable character or things. Kei kiduna chellaga, Sawom oknagalli. It is time to divert our attention to National Highway No: 150 for future generation.

It is surprising to come across with the news that the state government is making effort to bring consumer
goods through Guite Road, branded as National Highway No 150 which is one of the important State Highways which has been lying in quandary.