Villagers in Manipur’s Kamjong district have raised strong objections to the awarding of the Shangshak–Tengnoupal Road (NH-102A) project, urging the Centre and the State government to cancel the tender and issue a fresh call.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently sanctioned ₹429 crore for widening and improving the 78-km stretch in 2024–25. However, the contract was awarded to a Maharashtra-based firm at a bid of ₹227 crore — 47.2% below the sanctioned amount.
United Senior Citizen Forum (43-Phungyar Kendra) Secretary David Zimik said that such an abnormally low bid raises serious concerns over quality and safety. He argued that outside companies often prioritize profit over accountability and fail to meet the region’s unique challenges.
Zimik cautioned that unless the government reconsiders, villagers may be forced to deny land access for the project. “We welcome the government’s approval of this vital road, but compromising quality for cost will only harm our people,” he said.
The Forum stressed that the road is a lifeline for remote hill areas and insisted that it must be executed transparently with proper oversight.
