Funded entirely by public donations, the Khulmi Bridge on the Singheu route re-establishes a critical connection across the Kuki areas of Manipur after years of disrupted travel.
By Nengcha Haokip
Chandel, July 10, 2026: A new bridge built to restore road connectivity across the Kuki areas of Manipur was formally inaugurated today. The structure, named the Khulmi Bridge, connects Churachandpur district with the districts of Chandel and Tengnoupal along the Singheu route. The project, according to its organisers, was completed without any government funding and was financed entirely through crowdfunding and voluntary contributions from members of the Kuki community.
Organisers said the bridge became necessary after connectivity through the Sugnu route was cut off following the outbreak of violence in May 2023. They stated that the disruption left residents of Churachandpur, Chandel and Tengnoupal with no reliable motorable road, forcing them to depend on temporary river crossings. Those crossings, they added, became impassable during the monsoon, leaving villages isolated from access to markets, healthcare and emergency services for extended periods. They also claimed that the conflict led to the burning of more than 45 villages in Chakpikarong Block of Chandel and the displacement of over 8,100 people, with allegations that no state-run relief support was provided.
Community representatives said the Khulmi Bridge is the second attempt by residents to build a permanent crossing in the region. An earlier effort, the Seloitha Bridge, which was also reportedly funded by public donations, was halted before completion. Citing concerns over the future of that structure, local organisations had warned against any attempt to dismantle it. Learning from that experience, organisers said the Khulmi Bridge project was planned and executed in secrecy to ensure its completion without interruption.
The organising committee emphasized that the construction involved no government grant, no Public Works Department contract and no official inauguration by state authorities. All aspects of the work, from material procurement to construction labour, were managed by the community, with contributions coming from ordinary citizens, including many who identified themselves as displaced by the conflict. They described the project as an act of self-reliance and collective responsibility undertaken in response to prolonged isolation.
At the opening ceremony, community members said the bridge holds value beyond infrastructure. While it is expected to significantly improve the movement of people, goods, emergency services and humanitarian assistance between Churachandpur, Chandel and Tengnoupal, they said it also symbolizes the determination of the Kuki people to restore their own connectivity in the face of hardship.
