Chennai to Pondicherry Cab, One Way & Drop Taxi — from ₹2,582
A one-way cab from Chennai to Pondicherry costs ₹2,582 for a Hatchback to ₹4,150 for a SUV Innova Premium before 5% GST, for the 165.6 km drive of about 3.5 hrs, with 45 minutes of free waiting at pickup. Toll on this road is ₹248 and the Puducherry permit ₹400; the toll-inclusive fare shows both before you pay. You pay 10% now and the rest to the driver, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Distance
165.6 km
Travel Time
3–3.5 hours
Fares
Live & upfront
How to book a Chennai to Pondicherry cab
Step 1
Pick the car
Choose between Hatchback, Sedan, SUV Ertiga, SUV Carens, SUV Innova, SUV Innova (6+1), SUV Innova (7+1), SUV Innova Premium on the Chennai to Pondicherry fare table; the price shown is the price you pay.
Step 2
Pay 10% to confirm
Enter the pickup address and time and pay 10% of the fare online by UPI or card. The rest goes to the driver after the trip.
Step 3
Get the driver's details
The driver's name, number and car are shared before departure, with live tracking on the day and a start code that only you can give the driver.
Chennai to Pondicherry Taxi Fare
| Car | Seats | One way | Beyond the route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchback | 4 + 1 | ₹2,582 | ₹13/km |
| Sedan | 4 + 1 | ₹2,582 | ₹13/km |
| SUV Ertiga | — | ₹3,279 | ₹17/km |
| SUV Carens | — | ₹3,453 | ₹18/km |
| SUV Innova | — | ₹3,628 | ₹19/km |
| SUV Innova (6+1) | 6 + 1 | ₹3,628 | ₹19/km |
| SUV Innova (7+1) | 7 + 1 | ₹3,628 | ₹19/km |
| SUV Innova Premium | — | ₹4,150 | ₹22/km |
All fares are before 5% GST, which is added at payment, and cover the full 165.6 km. Round trips are priced with the return leg and the driver's allowance for each day included — choose your dates to see the fare.
In the fare
- All 165.6 km — no per-km charge on the route you booked
- Fuel and the driver's daily allowance
- 45 minutes of free waiting at pickup
- 5% GST, added at payment as its own line
- No night charge, no surge
You choose, or you pay
- Toll and state permit — pick a toll-included fare, or a lower one and pay at the booth
- Past Puducherry, the next state's permit is paid at its checkpost
- Parking, where the destination charges it
- Waiting past the free window, at your car's per-minute rate
Every one of these appears on the fare screen before you book — not at drop.
About the Chennai to Pondicherry Route
The East Coast Road from Chennai to Pondicherry is one of India's most scenic coastal drives, skirting the Bay of Bengal past Mahabalipuram and salt flats.
With a cab you can stop at the Shore Temple on the way down and still make a French Quarter lunch — a route built for unhurried travel.
- Scenic East Coast Road drive
- Optional Mahabalipuram stopover
- Ideal for weekend getaways
Why book with Gaadix?
Verified drivers
Every driver is background-verified before their first trip.
Live trip tracking
Track your cab in real time and share the trip with family.
Pay after the trip
Pay the driver after the trip, or 10% now and save with a coupon.
WHERE THIS ROAD ENDS
How to reach Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a former French territory on the Coromandel coast, and the part people come for is a grid of streets a few blocks deep behind the seafront.
Every road in, priced
Frequently Asked Questions
How many km is Chennai to Pondicherry by road?+
Chennai to Pondicherry is 165.6 km by road, about 3–3.5 hours by cab. The fare on this page is for the whole 165.6 km, not a meter.
What is the toll from Chennai to Pondicherry?+
Toll on the Chennai to Pondicherry road is ₹248, and the Puducherry state permit is ₹400. Pick the toll-included fare and nothing is collected at the plazas; the lower fare leaves the toll to be paid on the road. Either way it is shown before you book.
How much does the Chennai to Pondicherry cab cost?+
Fares depend on the vehicle you choose — hatchback, sedan or SUV. Enter your pickup and drop to see the exact live fare, with tolls, state taxes and GST itemised before you confirm the booking. True one-way pricing: you only pay for the distance you travel.
How long does the Chennai to Pondicherry drive take?+
The 165.6 km journey typically takes 3–3.5 hours by cab, depending on traffic and the stops you choose to make.
Can I book a one-way cab from Chennai to Pondicherry?+
Yes. Gaadix offers true one-way fares on this route, so you only pay for the distance you travel — no return charges. Round trips with driver waiting time are also available.
What is a drop taxi from Chennai to Pondicherry?+
The same thing as a one-way cab: the car takes you from Chennai to Pondicherry and you pay for that direction only, never for the driver's return. On Gaadix every one-way fare is a drop-taxi fare — the 165.6 km you book are the kilometres you pay for.
Is advance payment required?+
You confirm the booking by paying an advance of 10% and settle the balance with the driver after the trip. Cancellation is free at any time before a driver accepts, and free up to 24 hours before pickup once one has. Between 24 and 2 hours a cancellation fee of 20% of the fare applies, capped at ₹100, and the rest of your advance is refunded. Inside 2 hours of pickup the advance is not refunded. The exact amount is always shown before you confirm the cancellation.
Worth knowing about this route
This route crosses into Puducherry
Leaving Tamil Nadu for Puducherry means a state permit. Whether you pay it depends on the fare you pick: a toll-included fare has it inside, and nothing is collected at the border; the cheaper fare leaves it out, and it is handed over at the checkpost. The amount is set by Puducherry, not by us, and the receipt is theirs.
A round trip here is billed by the day, not the kilometre
A return journey is charged for at least 300 km per day, because the car stays with you for the whole trip rather than picking up another fare. This route is 166 km each way, so 331 km of driving over 3 days is still billed as 900 km. On a short trip that floor is most of the fare, and two one-way journeys can work out cheaper — worth comparing both before you book.
Take the East Coast Road
The East Coast Road runs along the sea with Mahabalipuram about an hour in, the one stop worth making. The inland highway through Tindivanam is no quicker for most of the day and shows you nothing; it is worth it only on a Sunday evening when the coast road is full.
THE DRIVE BACK
Pondicherry to Chennai cab — from ₹2,589
Same road, priced on its own. A one-way each way is often cheaper than holding the car for days.