DoNER Orders Manipur to Build Dedicated Road Corridor Connecting Hill Districts

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has advised the Manipur Government to examine the possibility of creating a dedicated road corridor that would connect Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts in the hill areas of the state. This proposal emerged following a memorandum from the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), submitted to President Droupadi Murmu, requesting the development of a special road in line with the vision of the so-called Tiger/German road. The envisioned route would link Kangpokpi to Churachandpur through Naga ancestral territories, aiming to improve connectivity in the hill regions.

The DoNER Joint Director, Pausianmuang Tunglut, formally communicated this to the Manipur Chief Secretary, Puneet Kumar Goel, through an official letter. The letter stated that the project could be considered depending on the policy, needs, and priorities of the state government. This communication was sent after KIM’s appeal to the President for the corridor to be recognized as a strategic and humanitarian route under central security control. KIM also requested that the route receive special infrastructure funding from multiple ministries, including:

• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

• Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)

• Ministry of DoNER

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)

The matter, however, sparked strong opposition from the Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), a powerful Naga organization. FNCC protested against the proposal and imposed a bandh (shutdown) restricting the movement of Kukis in Naga-inhabited areas. The opposition stemmed from the fact that the proposed route would pass through Naga ancestral lands, raising territorial and political sensitivities.

Following the bandh, the Manipur Government held a meeting with FNCC to address their concerns. During the discussions, the state government clarified that it had not approved or sanctioned the controversial Tiger/German road project. Officials also assured FNCC that any illegal construction or naming related to the project would not be allowed, and that legal action would be taken after proper verification if such activities were found. This assurance prompted FNCC to call off the bandh.

Despite the suspension of protests, KIM maintained its stance and reiterated its demands in the memorandum to the President dated August 1, 2025. They emphasized the importance of the road as a lifeline for the hill districts, especially in terms of strategic security, humanitarian relief, and economic development. KIM argued that the project would enhance connectivity, improve access to essential services, and integrate remote hill areas more closely with the rest of Manipur.

The proposal thus remains at a deliberation stage, with DoNER leaving the decision to the state government’s discretion. While the project has the backing of Kuki organizations, it continues to face opposition from certain Naga groups due to concerns over land rights, political implications, and territorial integrity. The future of the proposed corridor will depend on how the Manipur Government balances infrastructure development needs with the complex ethnic and territorial sensitivities in the state’s hill regions.