Transport in Cuddalore

Cuddalore is connected to other parts of Tamil Nadu through a very good rail and road network. Frequent buses run to nearby towns like Pondicherry (Puducherry), Chidambaram, Panruti, Tindivanam and Viluppuram. Buses to major cities of Tamil Nadu such as Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruvannamalai are also available from Cuddalore.

Railways

Cuddalore has two railway stations, Thirupadiripuliyur railway station and Cuddalore Port Junction, with station codes TDPR and CUPJ respectively. The station code for Cuddalore Port Junction was previously COT, as the station is located in Cuddalore OT. Thirupadirippuliyur railway station is located in the Cuddalore new town and is at a walkable distance to Cuddalore bus stand.

Cuddalore is served by the railway line Chennai - Viluppuram - Mayiladuthurai - Thanjavur - Tiruchirapalli, popularly known as the Main Line. A number of trains passing through Cuddalore provide connectivity to cities like Madurai, Tirupati, Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur, Karaikal, Mannargudi etc..

Cuddalore Port Junction (CUPJ) has a second railway line going to Salem via Virudhachalam Junction. Currently, there are daily passenger trains going to Tiruchirappalli and Virudhachalam at 6:00 AM and 08:40 PM respectively.

Computerised Reservation Facility is available at both the stations of Cuddalore Port Jn. and Tiruppadirippuliyur. Cuddalore Port Jn. recently has started handling cargo through containers. Parcel Bookings are accepted only at Cuddalore Port Jn.

Cuddalore demand new rail route cuddalore to Tindivanam via Pondicherry(Puducherry) for very long time but, a new rail route proposal from Chennai to Cuddalore via Mamallapuram, Pondicherry was tabled in 2009 Railway Budget.

Roads

• National Highway NH-45A (the Viluppuram–Pondicherry–Cuddalore–Chidambaram–Nagapattinam Highway) passes through Cuddalore.^[1]
• Three state highways connect Cuddalore with other parts of Tamil Nadu. The state highways originating from Cuddalore are

• SH-9, (the Cuddalore–Nellikuppam–Melpattampakkam–Panruti–Madapattu–Thirukovilur–Thiruvannamalai–Polur–Vellore–Katpadi–Chittoor road)
• SH-10, (the Cuddalore-Vadalur-Neyveli-Vriddhachalam-Veppur-Salem Road)
• SH-68, (the Cuddalore-Thiruvandipuram-Palur-Panruti-Arasur-Thirukovilur-Sankarapuram Road)

Distance between Cuddalore and other major towns and cities:

SNO	City	Distance (in km)
1	Chennai	183
2	Bangalore	314
3	Karaikal	80
4	Pondicherry	22
5	Tiruchirappalli	180
6	Salem	198
7	Tiruvannamalai	120
8	Tindivanam	63
9	Viluppuram	44

Government Transport Corporations

TNSTC, Viluppuram formerly known as Periyar Transport Corporation operates buses in this district. As this is bordered by adjacent Union Territory, inter-state coverage is also met. These buses connect Cuddalore and Chidambaram to all major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu. Town buses connects important towns and villages of this district.

Apart from this, SETC, Tamil Nadu and KSRTC, Karnataka also ply in this district thereby enhancing the speedy linking of all the towns in the express tracks of National Highways.

Location

References

1. "National Highways and their Lengths". NHAI.