Getting around
Getting Around, Apps & Digital Life. 5 min read.
01Getting Around
Getting around Coimbatore
Know this first: Coimbatore has no metro.
The central government turned the proposal down in November 2025, and the plan for now is better buses rather than rapid transit. Day to day, the city runs on two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, app cabs and a wide bus network, and traffic is far lighter than in the big metros. The new Avinashi Road flyover has made the airport run much quicker, and Coimbatore Junction has strong intercity rail.
What it costs
RIDE
Ola/Auto across the city
₹80 to 250
one way
The Roads & Transit Reality
No Metro (yet)
The Coimbatore metro proposal was declined by the centre in November 2025 on population-threshold grounds; the state is pushing for reconsideration, with a BRTS bus system suggested instead. Plan around buses, autos and app cabs, not rapid transit.
G.D. Naidu Avinashi Rd Flyover
The big 2025 win: a 10.1 km elevated corridor, Tamil Nadu's longest flyover, opened October 2025, cutting the central-Coimbatore-to-airport run from ~45 minutes to under 15. It speeds the Peelamedu/airport leg, but does not extend north to Saravanampatti.
Sungam-Ramanathapuram Flyover
A 3.15 km flyover (opened 2022) that bypasses the congested Sungam and Ramanathapuram junctions on the Trichy Road / Ukkadam-airport axis, a meaningful relief for the south of the city.
City Bus Network
Town buses run citywide from the Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus (the main hub), with Ukkadam (south, Pollachi, Palakkad), Singanallur (east, Trichy, Madurai) and the Omni terminus for private outstation coaches.
A Two-Wheeler City
Like much of Tamil Nadu's industrial belt, Coimbatore largely moves on two-wheelers, usually the quickest way around. We still suggest app cabs and a hired driver for your first few months while you learn the roads.
Getting Around Day-to-Day
App Cabs & Bikes
Ola, Uber, Rapido, inDrive and the Coimbatore-grown Red Taxi all operate. Rapido and inDrive bike-taxis are often cheapest for short hops and the best way to beat traffic. Note: Namma Yatri does not operate in Coimbatore.
Auto-Rickshaws
Plentiful. Union-revised rates (₹50 for the first 1.8 km, ₹18/km after, with a late-night surcharge) are a guide only, drivers often quote above them, so an app cab is usually the transparent option.
City & TNSTC Buses
Cheap and comprehensive from Gandhipuram, Ukkadam and Singanallur. TNSTC and SETC run the intercity network across western Tamil Nadu and into Kerala and Karnataka.
Coimbatore Junction
A major Southern Railway hub near the centre, with frequent trains to Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Madurai and Mumbai. Coimbatore North Junction serves the R.S. Puram / Saibaba Colony side.
Two-Wheeler · Buy or Rent
A scooter is the local default. Showrooms cluster on Avinashi and Trichy Roads; self-drive rentals (Royal Brothers and local agencies) start around ₹400/day and are handy while you settle in and decide.
Parking & Driving
Far easier than the big metros, most malls, hospitals and gated homes have parking. Gandhipuram, Town Hall and the R.S. Puram retail core are the tight spots; FASTag covers the Avinashi Road and highway tolls.
Vehicle Registration
Moving Your Vehicle to Tamil Nadu
If you're bringing a personal vehicle from another state, you'll need to re-register with the Coimbatore RTO and pay road tax on the depreciated value. The city is split across TN-37 (South / Peelamedu), TN-38 (North / Thudiyalur), TN-66 (Central) and TN-99 (West). The No-Objection Certificate (Form 28) from your previous state's RTO is the prerequisite; new TN registration typically takes ~2-3 months. IKAN handles all RTO coordination via the Parivahan portal.TN-37TN-38TN-66
At peak hours, around 9-10am and 6-8pm, Avinashi Road (now eased by the flyover), Gandhipuram and the Sathy Road stretch toward Saravanampatti clog up, though Coimbatore's traffic is far lighter than in the big metros. Build your day around those windows, and if you work in IT, live close to your cluster, because the two are 7-8 km apart with their own peak congestion.
02Apps & Digital Life
Apps to install
Like the rest of urban Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore runs on phone apps and UPI. You will use them for everything from booking an auto to paying at a neighbourhood mess. Download these before you arrive and your first week will be much easier.
Transport
Ola / Uber / Rapido / inDrive / Red TaxiPrimary cab and bike-taxi hailing, including Red Taxi, a Coimbatore-grown cab app. Rapido and inDrive bike-taxis are cheapest for solo hops and beating traffic. Note: Namma Yatri does not operate in Coimbatore.
IRCTC RailIntercity trains from Coimbatore Junction (Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Madurai, Mumbai), plus the scarce Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy-train tickets to Ooty, book weeks ahead.
TNSTC / SETC BusThe comprehensive city and intercity bus network from Gandhipuram, Ukkadam and Singanallur, reaching across western Tamil Nadu and into Kerala and Karnataka.
Food, Grocery & Delivery
Zomato / SwiggyBoth deliver within ~30 minutes across the city and are essential for restaurant ordering, including the big local chains like Sree Annapoorna.
Blinkit / Zepto10-minute grocery and essentials delivery, coverage is pincode-dependent, so outer-suburb newcomers should check availability in-app for their area.
BigBasketFor weekly grocery planning and bulk staples, alongside the city's well-stocked supermarkets and the Reliance/More chains.
Utilities, Health & Services
TNPDCL (TNEB)Tamil Nadu's electricity distributor (the old TNEB / TANGEDCO). New connections, name transfers and bills online, set up auto-pay on arrival.
Jio / Airtel / ACT FibernetJio and Airtel for mobile, both offer eSIM. ACT Fibernet and the others provide home broadband, 100-300 Mbps is standard in newer apartments.
Practo / 1mg / Apollo 24/7Practo for GP and specialist appointments; 1mg and Apollo 24/7 for online pharmacy and home sample collection. All English-language.
Urban Company / NoBrokerUrban Company for cleaning, AC servicing, salon-at-home, electrician and plumber. NoBroker and 99acres for no-brokerage rental search.
Already moving with IKAN?
Your homes, dates and papers are in i-Navigate, IKAN's app for families. It opens with the email address your IKAN consultant has for you, then sends you a six digit code.
Open your move Not moving with IKAN yet? Write to relo@ikan.com and a consultant will reply.