The Department of Highways and Minor Ports is one of the departments of Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Government of Tamil Nadu created the highways department in 1946 as sub-department to public works department. A separate highways department was formed in 1996.
The objective of the department is to formulate policies, regulations and programmes regarding road transport. The department is responsible for the improvement and maintenance of public roads, highways and bridges and to establish and improve small ports.
Tamil Nadu has an extensive road network covering about 2.71 lakh km as of 2023 with a road density of per 1000 km<sup>2</sup> which is higher than the national average of per 1000 km<sup>2</sup>. The department operates through eleven wings with 120 divisions and maintains of highways in the state. There are state highways of length which connect district headquarters, important towns and national highways in the state.
There is an intermediate sea port at Nagapattinam and sixteen other minor ports which are managed by the department.
The following undertakings function under the department: