Madurai in Southern Tamil Nadu, India, has well-developed transport facilities. Modes of transport in Madurai include road, rail and air. Madurai faces increasing daily traffic problems, so master plans have been prepared to reduce the city traffic and traffic problems in suburbs.[ example needed ]
Madurai is located in the southern part of Tamil Nadu. It is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu and connects the southern districts to northern districts in Tamil Nadu, and is one of the major transportation hubs in Tamil Nadu. The floating population is much heavier in the city . Most of the people from southern districts visit for medical, educational, marketing, cargo, shopping, tourism or official purposes. It is one of the important traffic circles in Tamil Nadu.
There are 30,126 registered three-wheeled vehicles called auto rickshaws, which are commercially available for renting within the city. [1] In addition to the government operated city buses that are used for public transport, there are 236 registered private mini-buses that support local transportation. [1] Madurai connects with the following major national highways;
| Road | No | Route |
|---|---|---|
| National Highway | 7 | Kanyakumari - Tirunelveli - Madurai City - Salem - Bengaluru - Varanasi |
| National Highway | 45 B | Thoothukudi - Madurai - Trichy - Viluppuram - Chennai (Grand southern Trunk Road) |
| National Highway | 49 | Rameswaram - Thiruppuvanam - Madurai - Kochi |
| National Highway | 85 | Thondi - Sivagangai - Madurai - Theni - Kochi (Point Highway) |
| National Highway | 208 | Madurai - Rajapalayam - Tenkasi - Sengottai - Kollam |
The state highways passing through the city are SH-32, SH-33 and SH-72, which connect various parts of Madurai district. [2] Madurai is one of the seven circles of the Tamil Nadu State Highway network, [2] is the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai) and provides local and inter-city bus transport across four districts, namely Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, . [3]
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Madurai city has the best city bus service second only to Chennai. The major city areas are connected by Madurai city bus service, operated by TNSTC (Madurai). Most of the buses, like Ashok leyland and TATA Marcopolo, are equipped with LED Displays and some of the Pseudo SLF buses are equipped with GPS which announce the bus stops for passengers. The city buses are available during day time, but some important areas have city bus services all day long (unlike other regions).
The Madurai Bus Rapid Transit System will plays a vital role in public transportation in the city of Madurai. It will increase the frequency of busses and reduces the travelling time.
Madurai city has major city bus stands and originating terminals such as;
Madurai has two important mofussil bus terminus;
M.G.R Bus Stand is an ISO 9001:2000 certified integrated mofussil bus stand in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India and it is the second largest bus terminus in Tamil Nadu. It is the second busiest mofussil bus terminus in Tamil Nadu after CMBT. The bus station was built at the cost of R100 million.[1] After the successful launch of this new bus stand, more mofussil buses are being operated to the southern districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Northern districts like Chennai, Vellore, Trichy, Viluppuram, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Kumbakonam Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai from the station.
| Platform | Bus Route |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tirupati, Kochi, Puducherry, Thiruvananthapuram and other interstate buses (SETC) |
| 2 | Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Vellore, Neyveli TS, Natham |
| 3 | Sivagangai, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, Tiruvarur, Chidambaram, Pudukottai, Karnataka state buses |
| 4 | Karaikudi, Devakottai, Aranthangi, Pattukottai, Ponnamaravathi, Melur |
| 5 | Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram, Paramakudi, Kamuthi, Kilakarai, Kerala state buses |
| 6 | Rajapalayam, Tenkasi, Srivilliputhur, Sankarankoil, Sengottai, Papanasam, Kadayanallur |
| 7 | Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Aruppukkottai, Sivakasi, Sattur, Virudhunagar, Vilathikulam |
| 8 | Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Kovilpatti, Nanguneri, Valliyur |
This is another important bus stand in Madurai. Some of the city buses operating here are Coimbatore region and Salem region. The cities like Dindigul, Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Ooty, Palani, Salem, Oddanchatram, Karur, Dharmapuri, Hosur, Kodaikanal and Pollachi.
In Arapalayam Bus Terminus there are 10 tracks are used to handle the mofussil buses
Upcoming: Because the size of a bus Terminus and located inside the city & increase in number of bus ply, this Bus Terminus always seems congested. So City corporation is planned to set up BUS PORT near upcoming AIIMS .In future Arapalayam Bus Terminus is moved out of city to decongest the city traffic.
| Track | Bus Route |
|---|---|
| 1 | Periyakulam, Batlagundu, Kodaikanal |
| 2 | Theni, Bodinayakkanur, Usilampatti, Elumalai, Nilakottai via Sholavandan. |
| 3 | Cumbum, Kumily, Thevaram, Uthamapalayam, Thekkadi, Theni |
| 4 | Bit line ( Free Pass ) |
| 5 | Erode, Sathyamangalam |
| 6 | Dindigul |
| 7 | Salem, Dharmapuri, Karur, Namakkal, krishnagiri, Hosur |
| 8 | Oddanchatram, Palani, Pollachi, Udumalaipettai, Coimbatore (Ukkadam) |
| 9 | Oddanchatram, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Ooty |
| 10 | Oddanchatram, Tirupur, Gobichettipalayam |
Madurai Junction railway station is one of the major railway junctions in south India and the headquarters of Madurai railway division. It is well connected with all major cities in India. Madurai division is the second largest by revenue in Southern Railway. It is one of the A1 graded stations in the Southern Railway (railway stations which earn of Rs. 50Cr p.a will get an A1 Grade). Madurai has two terminals:
Madurai Junction is an important railway junction in southern Tamil Nadu and constitutes a separate division of the Southern Railway. [4] It is the second largest revenue division in Southern railway next to the Chennai division. There are direct trains from Madurai connecting important cities in India like Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi,Jaipur,Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Mysuru, Coimbatore, Kollam, Kanyakumari, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Nagpur, and Bhopal. [5] The state government announced a monorail project for Madurai in 2011 named as Madurai Monorail, which is in its planning stages. [6]
| Line No. | Towards | Passing through Station | Type / Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chennai Egmore | Dindigul Junction, Trichirappalli Junction | Broad, Electrified - Double Track |
| 2 | Kanyakumari | Virdhunagar Junction, Tirunelveli Junction | Broad, Electrified - Single Track |
| 3 | Rameshwaram | Manamadurai Junction, Ramanathapuram | Broad, Single Track |
| 4 | Bodinayakannur | Usilampatti, Theni | Broad - Under Conversion |
| 5 | Thoothukudi | Arupukottai | Broad - Under Survey ( Proposed ) |
| 6 | Karaikudi | Melur, Thirupathur | Broad - Under survey ( Proposed ) |
| Sl No. | Station Name | Station Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kudalnagar | KON |
| 2 | Samayanallur | SER |
| 3 | Thirupparakundram | TDN |
| 4 | Thirumangalam | TMQ |
| 5 | Madurai East | MES |
| 6 | Silaimaan | ILA |
| 7 | Vadapalanji | VAJ |
| 8 | Keelakyuilkudi | KKY |
| 9 | Sholavandhan | SDN |
Madurai International Airport (IATA: IXM, ICAO: VOMD) is a customs airport serving Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu. The airport is located about 12 km (7.5 mi) from the Madurai railway station. The airport was established in 1956 and is one of the most important airports in Tamil Nadu. It offers domestic flight services to major cities in India and international flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka began on 20 September 2012. [7] Now, it also offers services to Dubai and Singapore. Air India Express, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet operate from the airport. [8] The airport handled 520,000 passengers between April 2011 and March 2012. [9] [10] [11]
The airport has two adjacent terminals. Currently the integrated terminal is being used for both international and domestic purposes. The Airports Authority of India is planning to convert the old terminal into a cargo complex. [12]
As the part of modernising 35 non-metropolitan airports, AAI constructed a state-of-art new integrated passenger terminal adjacent to the old terminal. The ₹1.29 billion (US$15 million) new integrated passenger terminal building was inaugurated on 12 September 2010. A total of 610 acres (250 ha) of land is under acquisition for the expansion of the runway to 12,500 ft (3,800 m) to accommodate large jet aircraft. [13] This terminal with an area of 17,560 m2 (189,000 sq ft) can handle a passenger capacity of 250 each on arrival and departure. [14] [15] The airport parking area has the capacity to park 375 cars and 10 buses. [16] Some of the features of the new terminal include: [17]
The new terminal has two lounges, a VIP lounge managed by AAI and the Commercial Important persons (CIP) lounge managed by TNCC-Madurai. [18]
Considering the growing cargo potential in Madurai International Airport, AAI has decided to modify the old terminal into a full-fledged cargo complex. [12] To start with, the union finance ministry has issued customs notifications dated 28 May 2013 regarding the handling of cargo at the Madurai International Airport.
Koyambedu is a neighbourhood in Chennai, India. Situated in the western part of Chennai city, the Koyambedu area has become a major hub of activity in Chennai after the inauguration of the Koyambedu market in 1996 and the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in 2002. The area is active round the clock owing to the movement of people and goods through the day, with uninterrupted transport facilities such as long-route buses, autos, share autos, vegetable goods carriers and so forth.
Transport in Chennai includes various modes of air, sea, road and rail transportation in the city and its suburbs. Chennai's economic development has been closely tied to its port and transport infrastructure, and it is considered one of the best infrastructure systems in India.
Thammampatti is a Town Panchayat in the Gangavalli taluk of Salem District of Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located between Pachamalai and the Kolli Hills on the banks of the River Swetha bordering Tiruchirappalli district, and is known mainly for its fine wood carvings.
Madurai Airport is an airport serving Madurai and its adjoining districts in Tamil Nadu, India. It is the 38th busiest airport in India, both in terms of passengers handled and aircraft movement. The airport is located near State Highway 37, about 12 km (7.5 mi) south of the city centre. It was established in 1957.
Tirunelveli City being the district headquarters of Tirunelveli District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has a very extensive transport network. Tirunelveli district is a vital tourist destination with lot of religious places, monuments and hill stations. Tirunelveli is also a major junction for transportation around Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari Districts.
Tiruchirappalli has a well-developed transport infrastructure. Being located almost at the geographic centre of the state Tamil Nadu India, Tiruchirappalli is well connected by Road, Rail and Air with most cities.
Tamil Nadu, a state in South India, has a developed, dense, and modern transportation infrastructure, encompassing both public and private transport. Its capital city Chennai is well-connected by land, sea, and air and serves as a major hub for entry into South India.
Thanjavur has a well-developed transport infrastructure. Thanjavur is well connected by Road, and Rail with most cities and towns in India
Silver Jubilee Bus Terminus or Erode Central Bus Station is a terminal bus station located in the City of Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located near Swastik Circle at the junction of Mettur Road and Sathy Road about 3 km north of Erode Junction Railway Station. It is the third largest bus terminus in Tamil Nadu followed by Chennai Koyambedu and Madurai Mattuthavani bus stations.
Coimbatore is a city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Most transportation in the city and suburbs is by road. Coimbatore is well-connected to most cities and towns in India by road, rail, and air, but not through waterways. The city has successful transport infrastructure compared to other Indian cities, though road infrastructures are not well maintained and developed according to the growing needs of transport, making traffic congestion a major problem in the city. A comprehensive transport development plan has been made to address many traffic problems.
Central Bus Station, popularly known as Central Bus Stand, is one of the bus termini of Trichy, located near Cantonment, the other being the Chatram Bus Stand.
Arappalayam Bus Terminus is an important mofussil bus terminus in Arappalayam in Madurai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Viluppuram Bus Station, popularly known as Villupuram New Bus Stand, is one of the bus terminus of Viluppuram, the other being the Viluppuram Old Bus Stand that is primarily used for intra-city buses. The bus station is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away from the town's major railhead Viluppuram Junction. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation services both mofussil and town buses to the station. By area-wise it is one of the largest bus terminus in Tamil Nadu.
The town of Viluppuram in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is well connected by both rail and road to other major cities in the state including Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Vellore. And also other state major cities such as Bengaluru, Tirupati, Pondicherry and Mangalore. Viluppuram serves as one of the important railway junction of Tamil Nadu and Southern Railway Zone. The nearest domestic airport is Pondicherry, which has a daily chartered flight to Bengaluru. The nearest international airports are Chennai and Tiruchirappalli.
Tiruvannamalai is predominantly connected by road to other major cities in the state including Chennai, Bengaluru, Vellore, Arani, Trichy, Tiruppur, Salem, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Shimoga and Kanchipuram. And also other state major cities such as Hyderabad, Tirupati, Puducherry and Mangaluru. Tiruvannamalai serves as one of the important Road junction of Tamil Nadu and north roadways Zone. The nearest domestic airport is Vellore, which has a no daily chartered flights. The nearest international airports are Chennai and Tiruchirappalli.
Madhavaram Mofussil Bus Terminus is a bus terminus in Chennai, India, located in the neighbourhood of Madhavaram, providing outstation/inter-state transport services. Spread over an area of 8 acres (32,000 m2), it was built to decongest the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu. It will chiefly handle buses to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including cities such as Chittoor, Tirupati, Nellore, Vijayawada, Kurnool, Puttaparthi, Visakhapatnam, Bhadrachalam, and Hyderabad. As of 2018, the number of passengers travelling from Chennai to these two states daily average 12,500. The Tamil Nadu and Andhra governments operate about 315 services daily, with the number increasing during weekends.
Kilambakkam Bus Terminus, officially Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus, is a bus terminus in Kilambakkam, a southern suburb of Chennai, India. Situated along the GST Road, it became operational on 30 December 2023. Spread over an area of 88.52 acres (358,200 m2), it was built to decongest the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu. It is an integrated bus terminus for mofussil buses operated by TNSTC, SETC, KSRTC, KSRTC SWIFT and contract carriage buses. The terminus is connected to other parts of the Chennai Metropolitan Area and suburbs by MTC buses.
Mattuthavani Bus Stand, officially M.G.R. Bus Stand, is an integrated bus terminus in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. This is the third-largest bus terminus in Tamil Nadu after Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus and Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.R. Bus Terminus in Chennai. It is one of the busiest bus terminals in south Tamil Nadu and one of the most important hubs in the state.
Madurai Metro, is a proposed rapid transit system for Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It arose from a Madurai Metrolite system, part of a major expansion of public transport in the city and one of the projects devised by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J.Jayalalithaa.
