Transportation in Ernakulam district
Ernakulam district is blessed with all types of transport. It has the most number of Regional Transport Offices in the state.
Transport Sections
There are 9 Regional Transport Offices.
- Ernakulam – KL 07
- Muvattupuzha – KL 17
- Thripunithura – KL 39
- Perumbavoor – KL 40
- Aluva – KL 41
- North Paravur – KL 42
- Mattancherry – KL 43
- Kothamangalam – KL 44
- Angamaly – KL 63
Also the district has got the maximum number of vehicles in the state.
Road Connectivity
Ernakulam district has excellent road connectivity. The 3 major national highways passing through Ernakulam District are the Cochin-Mumbai Highway (NH 17), Salem-Kanyakumari (NH 47 part of NSEW corridor) and Cochin-Dhanushkodi highway (NH 49).[1]
North South Corridor
The North South Corridor highway system starting from Edapally in Cochin on NH47 and connects the cities Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Salem and finally to Chennai and rest of the country towards north and Alapuzha, Kollam, Trivandrum, Nagercoil and Kanyakumari towards the south. The National Highway 17 also starting from Edapally and connects the cities Guruvayur, Calicut, Kannur, Kasaragod, Mangalore, Mormugao and Mumbai. The National Highway 49, also known as Madurai Highway starts from Kundannur near Cochin and passes through Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Munnar, Theni, Madurai and finally terminates at Dhanushkodi. The district also has the two small national highways namely NH 47A for Cochin Port connectivity (Smallest Indian National Highway) starting from Kundannur and NH 47C as part of the International Container Transshipment Terminal connectivity starting from Kalamassery.
Major Highways
The district is also well connected by state highways and other roads. Important state highway SH 1 also known as Main Central Road(MC Road) starts from Angamaly, a suburb of Kochi city which connects to the state capital Trivandrum via Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Koothattukulam.
- Seaport – Airport road via Kakkanad
- Palarivattom – Moovattupuzha – Punalur SH:- Connects Kakkanad, Pallikkara, Kizhakkambalam, Pattimattom, Moovattupuzha, Vazhakulam, Thodupuzha, Pathanamthitta
- North Paravur – Aluva – Munnar SH:- Connects Alengad, Perumbavoor, Kothamangalam, Thattekkad
- Vypin- Munambam SH:- Connects Vypin, Njarackal, Cherai, Munambam
- Thrippunithura – Koothattukulam – Sabarimalai:-Connects Mulamthuruthy, Piravom, Pala, Kumily
- Vytilla- Kottayam road:- Connects via Thripoonithura, Nadakkavu, Poothotta, Vaikkom, Kumarakom
- Fort Kochi – Alappuzha road
- Angamaly – Athirappilly road via Mookkanur
- Perumbavoor – Puthencruz road
Railway System
Ernakulam district has 17 railway stations. The Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town are the major ones. The other stations are Aluva, Angamaly, Thripunithura, Edapally, Mulamthuruthy, Cochin Harbour Terminus, Karakutty, Chowara, Kalamassery, Nettoor, Kumbalam, Mattancherry H., Chottanikkara road and Piravom road. The railroutes are via Thrissur, Kottayam, Cochin H.T., Allapuzha and Vallarpadam. The Angamaly-Erumely Sabarimala route passes through the district.
Routes are proposed via N.Paravur – Guruvayur, Moovattupuzha – Theni. Kochi Metro urban rail system is proposed in the city.
Air Transport
Ernakulam district has two airports, Naval airport in W.island(Old Cochin airport) and Cochin International Airport(CIAL). CIAL is the fourth largest airport in the country after Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai having International passengers. Currently flights are operating to the Persian Gulf region, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and to major cities in India.
Water Ways
Ernakulam district lies in the flat delta region of the Periyar and Moovattupuzha rivers. Water transport is prominent in the district through rivers and lagoons. The major boat services are in Ernakulam area and other areas having small ferry services. The district boasts of having the largest port in the west coast of the country: the Cochin port, which is also the reason for large scale developments in the district. Now a new International port is completed in Vallarpadam which will boost the developments in the district further.