Imphal, May 03: Terming the ongoing agitation of National Highway 39 blockade from Mantripukhri upto Koirengei junction as reflection of genuine outcry of the masses, All manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union has fervently appealed to the State authorities to find an amicable solution to the impasse.

Expressing that use of force against justifiable cause of the public is highly condemnable and undemocratic, the Union also gave wake-up call to the Government as failure to redress grievances of the public tantamount to ignoring importance of the said route from which most essential goods for the State are ferried.

Reminding the Government that negligence of the said Highway stretch is not a recent case but has been continuing for the past few years, the transporters' body asked the State authorities to flip over record of deaths, injuries and other forms of inconveniences caused to the general commuters.

While conveying solidarity to those injured in the police crackdown against blockade supporters yesterday, the Union also ridiculed inability of the State Government to construct/repair the road contrary to numerous tall claims.

If the Government could apply force to foil the agitators demanding proper maintenance of the short distance under the aegis of North Imphal United Clubs and Meirapaibis' Organisation (Niucamo), aspiration of the masses for sprucing up the Imphal-Mao stretch of the Highway would certainly mean uncountable casualties, it construed .

It also highlighted pitiable conditions of the Central Bus Terminus where over 100 large craters had been created due to prolong negligence.

The Union further called upon all transporters against defying the agitation to avoid undesired consequences and reiterated its appeal to the Govt to facilitate negotiation towards ending the agitation.

Meanwhile, manipur Ngalhanba Apunba Lup has appealed to the State authorities to hold talks with Niucamo representatives for ending the blockade stir as usage of Lamshang-Khurkhul road by heavy vehicles as diversionary routes has begun to take its toil on the sub-standard and ill-maintained road.

Informing that cracks of about 2 wide feet had developed in various section of the Lamshang-Khurkhul road due to plying of heavy vehicles, the Lup observed that continued usage of the said diversionary route is certain to permanently damage the vital road link.

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