In the present study the physico-chemical parameters were determined at 19 stations to assess water quality status. Nitrate concentrations were considerably higher in the hotspots (stations 6, 7, 10 and 16) where the industrial discharges mixes with coastal waters. (5.5-7.1 µmol/l) compared to near shore coastal waters where values were about 2 µmol/l. The highest concentrations of ammonia are found where bacterial denitrification processes utilise nitrate and thereby generate nitrogen and ammonia along the stations 6,7,10 and 16 due to the decomposition of organic substances from sewage. Total phosphorus concentrations above 0.21 µmol/l and especially or 0.315 µmol/l along the region favor the growth cyanobacteria. From the nutrient data, it was found that during the post monsoon the N/P ratio ranged from a low value of 4.32 (Porto-Novo 10 km station) and a high (13.11) nearly reaching the ratio of 16:1 at the Pondicherry hotspot. During the monsoon the N/P ratio at the Cuddalore 10 km station was low (4.23) with a maxima of 11.06 at the Cuddalore hot spot during low tide. The lower N/P ratio observed during the study period indicated that coastal waters from Pondicherry to Porto-Novo were nitrogen (N) limited. As per the Central Pollution Control Board standards the observed values were well within the permissible range for the parameters pH 6.5-8.5 and DO above 4 mg/l. The hotspot locations showed considerable Dissolved Oxygen (DO) under saturation typically about 65% with respect to atmospheric equilibrium.