in connecting the southwestern coast of India (Mangalore) with the southeastern coast (Chennai) through Palghat Gap. It is also the meeting point of three important Railway lines: Mangalore-Chennai line, Nilambur–Shoranur line, and Kanyakumari-Shoranur line, due to the presence of Palakkad Gap Road Palakkad has a medium-grade network of roads. The National Highway 544 from Salem to Kochi passes through the outskirts of the city.National Highway 966 starts from Palakkad and joins NH 66 near Kozhikode. Another important road is the Palakkad – Ponnani road which connects NH 544 and Mumbai-Kanyakumari coastal NH 66. Palakkad City has four Bus Stations includes KSRTCTerminal Palakkad and three Private Bus stands named Stadium Stand, Municipal Bus stand, and Town Bus Stand. Palakkad KSRTC depot is the only depot in Palakkad district. Sub depot is present at Chittur serving Chittur-Thathamangalam. Operating centres are present at Vadakkenchery and Mannarkkad serving the respective towns. KSRTC Station Master office is present at Pattambi. Demographics According to the 2018 Statistics Report, Palakkad district has a population of 2,952,254, roughly equal to the nation of Armenia or the state Utah in the U.S. so it a ranking of 138th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 7.39%. Palakkad has a sex ratio of 1067 females for every 1000 males. The literacy rate of Palakkad district is 89.49%, which is the lowest in Kerala. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 14.37% and 1.74% of the population respectively. The district is home to the largest ratio of Scheduled Castes (SC) population in Kerala, which accounts for around 15% of total population of the district. The total Palakkad District population living in rural areas is 2,133,124 of which males and females are 1,031,466 and 1,101,658 respectively. In rural areas of Palakkad District, sex ratio is 1068 females per 1000 males. If child sex ratio data of Palakkad district is considered, figure is 969 girls per 1000 boys. Child population in the age 0-6 is 231,892 in rural areas of which males were 117,763 and females were 114,129. The child population comprises 11.42% of total rural population of Palakkad district. Literacy rate in rural areas of Palakkad District is 88.31% as per census data 2011. Gender wise, male and female literacy stood at 92.36 and 84.56 percent respectively. In total, 1,678,895 people were literate of