Roadways
The network of roadways of a country is as essential as the arterial system to the human body. The roads in a big way facilitate advancement in the economy of a country and they simultaneously facilitate communication. In the matter of surface transport, they are almost equal to the railways which connect other parts of the country through its large railway network system. These two transports are not parallel but inter-dependent.
The Chennai-Kanyakumari Highway joins the Kanyakumari- Trivandrum road near Aralvoimozhi which passes through Nagercoil touching other important places and terminates at Trivandrum in Kerala State covering a distance of 62.4 km. from Aralvoimozhi to Kerala border. The views on either side of this road can never fail to attract the travelers.
Tracing the history of a regular system of road communication in the Kanyakumari area it dates back to 1860 and the credit goes to Sir Madhava Rao, the then Dewan of Travancore-Cochin State. The work part of it was executed by the Engineering Department which was set up during his period. However, these roads were primarily intended for the movement of troops, but in the days to come it accommodated civilian traffic also. During the rule of Rama Varma (1758-98 A.D.) a good road was laid between Kanyakumari-Kodungalaur (Crangalur).
Road Transport Services
Roads
play a vital part in economic development, opening up remote areas, stimulating
the growth of agriculture as well as industry, besides facilitating
communication. As an essential
element of the transport infrastructure, they contribute, along with the
railways, the nation’s lifeline.
The road network in
Kanyakumari district consists of National highways,
State highways, District roads and rural roads.
The trunk road from Madras to Nagercoil joins the Kanyakumari –
Trivandrum road near Aralvoimozhi and passes through important places over a
distance of 62.4 Km. and finally enters Kerala State.
The road from Kanyakumari to Trivandrum is one of the busiest roads in
the country.
The important private bus operators in the district during 1960’s were
Messrs. Pioneer Motors (P) Limited, P.T.S. Motor Service and Sri Ganapathy Motor
Service at Nagercoil and Messrs. R.K.V. Motors and Timbers (P) Limited and P.C.
Motor Service at Marthandam.
1.
Mettukadai
to
Martandam
(1967)
2.
Martandam
to
Thiruparappu
(1967)
3.
Nagercoil
to
Colachel
(1967)
4.
Martandam
to
Kaliyal
(1967)
5.
Thuckalay
to
Thiruvarambu
(1967)
6.
Nagercoil
to
Kurumbanai
(1967)
7.
Martandam
to
Alancholai
(1968)
8.
Thuckalay
to
Kulasekharam
(1968)
9.
Nagercoil
to
Manakudy
(1970)
10.
Martandam
to
Thengapattinam
(1970)
The district is well covered with bus transport facilities. Remote villages are also covered by 238 private mini buses. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai Division III) Ltd., Nagercoil is operating 632 routes with a fleet strength of 676 buses as indicated below.
| Serial No. | Name of the Bus Depot | Number of Buses attached |
| 1 | Ranithottam I | 68 |
| 2 | Ranithottam II | 86 |
| 3 | Ranithottam III | 87 |
| 4 | Kanyakumari | 67 |
| 5 | Vivekanandapuram | 30 |
| 6 | Monday market | 75 |
| 7 | Martandam | 80 |
| 8 | Kuzhithurai | 75 |
| 9 | Thiruvattar | 65 |
| 10 | Colachel | 43 |
| Total | 676 |
LENGTH
OF ROAD (IN KILO METRES)
YEAR
2001-2002
|
Surfaced Roads |
Unsurfaced Roads |
Grand Total |
|||
|
Cement Concrete |
Bituminous |
Water Bound Macadam |
Total |
||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
239.264 |
2444.948 |
811.587 |
3495.799 |
812.953 |
4308.752 |
Source: All Panchayat Unions & Municipalities, AD Town Panchayats, Nagercoil. DFO, Nagercoil, EE PWD State Highways Nagercoil, EE PWD National Highways Nagercoil