Thoothukudi has an extensive transport network and is well-connected to other major cities by road, rail and air. The corporation maintains a total length of 428.54 km (266.28 mi). The city has 37.665 km (23.404 mi) concrete roads, 329.041 km (204.457 mi) black topped surface roads, 56.592 km (35.165 mi) water bound macadam roads and 5.242 km (3.257 mi) earthern roads. The major roads within the city are NH 7A connecting Palayamkottai, Ettayapuram road (also called Madurai road), Ramanathapuram road, Tiruchendur road and West Cotton road. A bye pass road located outside the city connects the harbour, thermal plant, SPIC industry and Madurai Road. There are two bus stands in the city; the old bus stand is located in the Palayamkottai road and the new bus stand is located in the Ettaiyapuram road. Around 700 buses are operated from these two bus stands, catering the local and inter city transport.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates daily services connecting various cities to Thoothukudi. The corporation operates a computerised reservation centre in the bus stand of the city. The State Express Transport Corporation operates long distance buses connecting the city to important cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Kanyakumari. Thoothukudi being a harbour city has lot of container truck transport. As of 2008, the number of container trucks entering the city is 1000. The expansion of ECR from Tuticorin to Kanyakumari via Tiruchendur and Koodankulam at a cost of 257 crores sanctioned and is in progress.
Thoothukudi railway junction is one of the oldest and popular railway stations in India. The line between Madurai and Thoothukudi was opened in 1874. Tuticorin City railway station is one of the oldest stations in India and South Indian Railway began a Madras – Tuticorin service connecting with the boat to Ceylon in 1899. The station was declared a Model Station in 2007 and several infrastructure developments are in process. There is
