Transport in Thoothukudi

Thoothukudi has transport connections via road, rail, sea and air. After Chennai, Thoothukudi is only city in Tamil Nadu to have all four means of transport

Roads

Tuticorin City is well connected by road. The Major Highways are,

• Tuticorin – Madurai – Trichy – (NH 45-B)
• Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A)
• Tuticorin – Palayakayal – Tiruchendur (State Highway)
• Tuticorin – Ramanathapuram;- Chennai (ECR).

Current projects,

• Tuticorin – Palayamkottai (NH 7-A) Expressway 4-way laning
• The expansion of ECR from Tuticorin to Kanyakumari via Tiruchendur and Koodankulam at a cost of 257 crores sanctioned and is in progress.^[1]

Railways

Tuticorin City railway station is one of the oldest^[2] stations in India and South Indian Railway began a Madras – Tuticorin service connecting with the boat to Ceylon in 1899.^[3] The station was declared a Model Station in 2007^[4] and several infrastructure developments are in process. There is also another station, known as Tuticorin Melur.^[5]

Airport

Tuticorin Airport is at Vagaikulam, 14 km from the heart of the city. It was for some years closed to commercial traffic but reopened in April 2006. The State Government plans to extend the runway and modernize the airport to handle to more traffic and bigger aircraft.^[6] There was also a proposal in 2009 for a greenfield airport.^[7]

Spicejet are operating flights daily to Chennai and Bangalore (via Chennai).

Madurai Airport is the nearest international airport.

Port

Tuticorin Port

Tuticorin Port is a deep-sea harbour and one of the major ports in India. A luxury ferry liner, the Scotia Prince, is conducting a ferry service to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ferry services between the two countries have been revived after more than 20 years.^[8]

References

1. http://www.tn.gov.in/policynotes/pdf/highways.pdf
2. Railway Map of India – 1893
3. "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: IR History: Early Days - 2". Irfca.org. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
4. "Plan to upgrade railway station in Tuticorin". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 29 January 2007.
5. "[IRFCA] Indian Railways Station Codes Index". Irfca.org. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
6. Press Information Bureau English Releases
7. "Consolidated Construction to focus on infrastructure projects". Indo-Asian News Service. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
8. "Tuticorin-Colombo ferry sets sail — Times Of India". The Times of India. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2011-09-20.

External links

• Thoothukudi
• Thoothukudi Corporation
• Tuticorin Port Trust
• V.O.Chidambaranar Port Trust
• Tuticorin: Pearl of the south
• Tuticorin Churches