Imphal, Dec. 17: The Manipur government is seriously working on reopening the historical Old Cachar Road to beat blockades along the state’s existing supply routes.

The move comes as the state is still reeling under the impact of the five-month-long economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council on-and-off from April 11 till September 18 this year, disrupting the supply of essential commodities to Manipur.

The Centre has accepted the state government’s proposal to revive the road as an alternative to the two existing supply lines of Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways whenever blockades are put up on these.

An official source said, “The Centre has agreed to provide Rs 84 crore to revive the road. The North Eastern Council has sought a detailed project report and the matter is with the state planning board.”

The Old Cachar Road, also known as Tongjei Maril, was the only link Manipur had with the outside world during the turbulent era of the Meitei kings. It was only after the British entered Manipur that the Imphal-Dimapur highway and subsequently the New Cachar Road (Imphal-Jiribam highway) were opened.

It was also on the Old Cachar Road that Shanta Das Gossain, a Vaishnavite preacher, travelled all the way from Bengal to Manipur.

The route is also associated with the history of fraternal feuds and treachery in the royal family. During British rule in Manipur, many English political agents had come to the state via this route. The last of the English to escape the palace rebellion in 1891 was Rose Grimwood, the wife of the then political agent who was killed during the rebellion.

The road connects Imphal with Cachar district of Assam through Manipur’s Bishnupur and Tamenglong districts. The road was abandoned after the Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Dimapur routes were opened.

The road is only 100km while the Imphal-Jiribam route is more than 220km. “The route is shorter and can be used as an alternative supply line whenever blockades stop supply along the two existing highways. We see less trouble along this route,” the official said.

Though the state government had been planning to revive the route since the past few years, the plan could not materialise because of non-availability of funds. The Centre agreed to provide the funds after the recent crisis created by the blockade, the official said.

The UNC blockade had created a food crisis in the state. The supply of essential commodities, especially fuel, is still not completely normal though the situation has improved considerably.

During his recent visit to Manipur, Union home minister P. Chidambaram promised funds for developing the Imphal-Jiribam highway.