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Tips to Commute in Chennai

Tips  to commute in ChennaiChennai is popular as the cultural capital of our country because of its extended legacy and innate rituals. Formerly this city was named as Madras till the year 1996 and thereafter it was given the name Chennai.

The city genuinely reflects the miscellany of India more than any other city of the country. Within a period of above 350 years, the city has bloomed into an enchanting metropolis which welcomes everyone with its warm and friendly heart.


Chennai supports all kinds of advancement including the conventional arts and crafts as well as the modern technology. The city also welcomes a succession of paradoxes. In the present day this cheerful metropolis is a combination of modern and traditional or a blend of new and old. There are three modes of commuting in Chennai which are by road, by air and by rail:

Commuting in Chennai via Road:

There is a broad network of roads which links Chennai with the main towns and cities of Tamil Nadu and the other parts of India as well. Chennai offers the best quality bus services to its tourists.


BUSES in Chennai:


Buses in Chennai
  • The Mofussil Bus Stand / Depot which is situated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Salai in Koyembedu is famous as Asia’s largest bus terminal. Tourists can also book their bus tickets online by logging into the red bus website (www.redbus.in).

  • Buses are the cheapest option to travel within the city. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai has 3257 buses which serve on around 622 bus routes in Chennai. The bus service being the most affordable service in Chennai is used by approximately 4.3 million citizens every day.

TAXI / CAB / AUTO in Chennai:

Taxis for hire in Chennai
  • At the airports, railway stations and bus terminals tourists can avail prepaid taxis to travel within Chennai. Tourists can also book taxis via travel agencies or cab agents in advance.

  • The taxi fare completely depends on the distance covered but before initiating the taxi trip it is sensible to check the meter whether it operating correctly or not.

  • Auto rickshaws are also available within the city which is a bit costly but they can offer swift service to places in close proximity. Mini private buses are an added option for transportation.

Cost of Commuting within Chennai:

Cost of travelling in Chennai
  • The bus fares from one place to another within Chennai are between Rs 50 to Rs 70 (if the places are situated far away). And for places located nearby the bus fares are between Rs 5 to Rs 20.

  • Taxis and cabs charge around Rs 9 to Rs 15 per kilometer depending upon the individual’s choice of the type of cab.

  • Auto rickshaws charge around Rs 15 per kilometer and if one wants to travel more than 3 km, the charge would decrease to approximately Rs 10 per km.

  • Cycle rickshaws are also available who charge a lesser price than the auto rickshaws.

Smart ways to travel more in less time in Chennai:

  • It takes almost 3-5 days to explore the city and take pleasure in. The tourists can plan and book in advance which will help them in covering the renowned spots in Chennai within three days trip.

  • Some places like Luxury Resorts and Marina Beach may need an extended holiday.

  • A local travel agency can be very useful and booking with them in advance will help the tourists to cover more places in less time because they are more accustomed with the routes of Chennai.

  • Car rentals are good and if they can be booked for half day or full day they can be much cheaper as compared to the normal fares per kilometer.

Important Roads which connect Chennai:


  • National Highway 45
  • Great Northern Trunk Road
  • Tiruvallar High Road
  • Poonamallee Road Chennai
  • Tiruvottiyur High Road       

Commuting in Chennai via Air:

Chennai International Airport
  • The Chennai flights connect the metropolis to all the main cities in India as well as the main International destinations.


  • Jet airways, Spicejet, Sahara airlines, Kingfisher and other carriers link the city with Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore, Delhi and other main cities of India.


  • The Domestic and International Airports are situated at Meenambakkam, which is at a distance of approximately 20 kilometers from the heart of the city.

Commuting in Chennai via Rail:

Chennai Railway Station
  • The two main railway stations of Chennai are- Egmore and Chennai Central.


  • The city is well connected to all the main cities of India via strong rail network.


  • Tourists can also avail the rail tickets with the help of the online reservation system. The process of online rail ticket booking has gained more popularity these days because it is totally hassle free as the passengers do not have to stand in a long queue which saves a lot of time.


  • The suburban railways in Chennai have an integrated network of lines which crisscross the city’s dimensions through which they offer fast commuting without any hassle.

Explore more about Chennai Tourism

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