Newly appointed Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh is demonstrating what transformative leadership looks like, grounded, accountable, and relentlessly focused on delivery.
Since taking oath on 4 February 2026, CM Khemchand has placed road infrastructure at the heart of his agenda, turning long-standing complaints about potholes, poor connectivity, and delayed projects into visible action.
His approach stands out for its personal intensity. Repeated on-site inspections, often early in the morning or in the evening, to monitor progress firsthand.
From his early-morning visit to Thangal Bazar—reviewing pavement strengthening, drainage improvements, beautification, and overall market redevelopment—he has engaged directly with officials from the Public Works Department, Municipal Administration, and other agencies.
Accompanied by local MLAs, he assesses pace, quality, and coordination, issuing clear directives to accelerate work, resolve bottlenecks, and maintain high standards.
Similar vigilance marks his evening inspection of NH-137A (Mayai Lambi) starting at Keishampat, where he reviewed pavement strengthening works, interacted with residents about adjoining lanes, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to durable, citizen-friendly connectivity.
He has also visited Khurai Salanthong to push for expedited development on Pangei Road, urging agencies to ease public hardship caused by substandard conditions.
These aren’t isolated photo opportunities. They reflect a deliberate shift toward hands-on oversight that ensures projects don’t stall under the radar. By prioritizing reliable roads—essential for commerce in bustling hubs like Thangal Bazar, smoother travel on key highways, and everyday mobility, CM Khemchand addresses a core need in a state where infrastructure has too often lagged behind aspirations.
This focus aligns with the vision of a Viksit Manipur within a Viksit Bharat. Roads that connect communities, support economic revival, and foster stability amid challenges.
In a political environment heavy on rhetoric, his willingness to step out repeatedly, assessing, directing, and following up redefines governance as action over announcement.
Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s tenure is still young, but his road-centric drive is already setting a powerful precedent. By leading from the front on the very streets citizens use daily, he is rebuilding not just infrastructure but trust in leadership itself.
Most of his meetings, in fact, stem from memorandums submitted by local people and community representatives demanding road construction, repairs, and upgrades, testifying to the deep public yearning for better connectivity.
By personally receiving these representations, reviewing them on the ground during inspections, and translating them into immediate directives, CM Khemchand ensures that governance remains responsive to grassroots voices rather than confined to files or formalities.
Manipur stands to gain immensely if this momentum endures, delivering tangible progress where it matters most.
At the very least, history will remember him as the Chief Minister who placed roads at the forefront, who didn’t merely talk about better connectivity but walked the stretches himself to make it happen.
If this momentum endures, it could define his tenure as one that delivered real, visible change where it matters most. On the ground, connecting people and rebuilding hope across Manipur.
Enjoy the Editorial of Signpost News, edited every Tuesday.