Churachandpur, Sept 13: Heavy rainfall in Manipur on Saturday forced a change in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s itinerary as he travelled to Churachandpur by road after flying directly to Imphal from Mizoram, instead of taking a helicopter as earlier planned.
Addressing a large gathering despite the downpour, the Prime Minister praised the people of Manipur for their resilience. “The land of Manipur is the land of courage and bravery... I salute the passion of the people. All of you came here despite the heavy rain, I thank you for your love,” he said. He added that the scenes of youth and elderly carrying the Tiranga along the route left him deeply moved.
Arriving at Churachandpur around 12:30 pm, Mr. Modi first interacted with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) before laying the foundation stone of multiple infrastructural projects worth ₹7,344 crore at Peace Ground. He assured the displaced families of the Centre’s full commitment to restoring peace and normalcy in the state.
The projects include the Manipur Urban Roads, Drainage and Asset Management Improvement Project worth over ₹3,600 crore; five National Highway projects worth more than ₹2,500 crore; the Manipur Infotech Development (MIND) project; and Working Women Hostels across nine locations, among others.
Speaking at the public event, the Prime Minister said, “The land of Manipur is the land of courage and determination. These hills are a priceless gift of nature and symbolise your continuous hard work. The Centre is committed to bring development here. Over ₹7,000 crore worth of projects inaugurated today will better the lives of people of Manipur and those living in the hills.”
He also highlighted connectivity as a critical issue. “Manipur is a State with an international border. Connectivity has been an issue here. After 2014, I worked on improving Manipur’s connectivity. We have increased the budget for rail and road in Manipur and stressed on road infrastructure,” he said.
Turning to the violence that has shaken the state, Mr. Modi underlined that peace is paramount for development. “A start has been made for peace talks with groups in the valley and hills,” he said. Urging all sides to shun confrontation, he appealed, “I request all organisations to fulfill their dreams by walking on the path of peace and securing the future of your children. I am with you, the Government of India is with you. To bring back life on track in Manipur, GOI is making all efforts. Those rendered homeless, we are giving aid to build 7,000 homes.”
Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to reach Kangla in Imphal by 2:30 pm to interact again with IDPs and inaugurate additional projects worth ₹1,203 crore. These include initiatives in urban infrastructure, education, health, connectivity, and energy, reflecting the Centre’s emphasis on holistic development of the state.
Before arriving in Manipur, Mr. Modi launched projects worth ₹9,000 crore in Mizoram. At Lengpui Airport near Aizawl, he virtually addressed a rally at Lammual Ground, which he could not attend due to heavy rain. There, he inaugurated the Bairabi-Sairang rail line, bringing Mizoram’s capital Aizawl onto the country’s railway map - a move he described as a historic day that will link the state with major Indian metropolises.
