Avadi

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Neighbourhood in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India

title: "Avadi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["suburbs-of-chennai", "cities-and-towns-in-tiruvallur-district"] description: "Neighbourhood in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avadi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Neighbourhood in Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Avadi
settlement_type	Suburb of Chennai
nickname	Chennai's Western Gateway
pushpin_map	India Chennai# Tamil Nadu
pushpin_map_caption	Avadi
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	India
subdivision_type1	State
subdivision_name1	[[File:TamilNadu Logo.svg
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Tiruvallur
subdivision_type3	Metro
subdivision_name3	Chennai
established_title
government_type	Municipal Corporation
governing_body	Avadi Municipal Corporation
leader_party	DMK
leader_name	G. Udayakumar
leader_title	Mayor
unit_pref	Metric
area_total_km2	65
elevation_m	26.85
population_total	344,701
population_as_of	2011
population_density_km2	auto
population_footnotes
demographics_type1	Other details
demographics1_title1	Official language
demographics1_info1	Tamil
timezone1	IST
utc_offset1	+5:30
postal_code	"600054, 600055, 600062, 600065, 600071, 600072, 602024"
registration_plate	TN 12(Poonamallee)
blank1_name_sec1	Parliamentary constituency
blank1_info_sec1	Tiruvallur
blank2_name_sec2	Assembly constituency
blank2_info_sec2	Avadi
blank3_name_sec2	Planning agency
blank3_info_sec2	CMDA
blank4_name_sec1	MP
blank4_info_sec1	Sasikanth Senthil, INC
blank5_name_sec1	MLA
blank5_info_sec1	S. M. Nasar, DMK
::

Etymology

The exact origin of the name 'Avadi' is not known. One version has it that it is the combination of "Aa" (meaning cow) and "Adi or gudi (kudi)" (meaning place in Tamil), indicating that the place had many cows. One of the more popular theories about the origin of the name is that it is an acronym for "Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India". However, this is most likely a backronym invented more recently. The entity "Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India" does not appear in any British records. This acronym is further disputed by the existence of a railway station going by the name of "Avadi" in the locality since 1873 before the establishment of defence industries.

Several British documents from the 19th century refer to the place as "Avady", which doesn't match the widely circulated acronym theory. The name Avadi (Avady) was already in use by 1856, when the first public railway was opened in the Madras Presidency. This predates the transfer of the Madras Presidency's arsenal from Fort St. George, India in the city of Madras, to Avadi, which was done sometime after 1870, which contradicts the popular acronym theory.

History

The suburb is part of the "auto belt" that developed when the automobile industry developed in Madras, primarily in the city's industrial north and west regions, in the early post-World War II years.

The famous session of the Indian National Congress was held at Avadi on 10 January 1955 where the Avadi Resolution was declared that the objective of the Congress was the establishment of a "socialistic pattern of society" in India. This historical meet emphasised the importance of socialism and its impact on social development. Jawaharlal Nehru with Morarji Desai and other Congress leaders at the AICC session declared that a socialistic pattern of society was the goal of the Congress.

Geography

Avadi is located at . It covers an area of 65 km2 and has an average elevation of 17 m. Avadi is one of the largest localities in Chennai, stretching from Poonamalle High Road to MTH Road.

Lake

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Avadi_lake.jpeg" caption="A view of the Avadi lake before renovation"] ::

Avadi has a lake called Paruthipattu Lake. Spread over 200 acres and 2.64 km in length,

Waste management

The neighborhood generates about 150 metric tonnes of garbage daily. Together with Thiruninravur and Poonamallee, Avadi generates about 210 metric tonnes of solid waste from around 120,000 households, which is dumped on a 17.78-acre site in Sekkadu, owned by the Avadi Municipal Corporation. In 2017, the municipal corporation planned to construct 33 decentralized compost processing plants at a cost of 109.6 million, each with a capacity to convert 4 tonnes of biodegradable waste into manure. Of these, 17 plants were operational as of February 2018.{{cite news | last = Lakshmi | first = K. | title = Local composting gets a fillip | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 21 December 2017 | url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/local-composting-gets-a-fillip/article22105695.ece | access-date = 7 January 2018}}

IT Parks and Companies

IT Park

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Tidel_Park_Avadi.jpg" caption="Tidel Park (Pattabiram) graphic representation"] ::

A new Tidel Park, with a built-up area of 5,57,000 square feet, will be built on a 10-acre land at a cost of 2,300 million at Avadi–Pattabiram on MTH Road. This is expected to provide jobs for 30,000 people. The Construction work started in August 2020.{{cite news | title = State govt to build ₹230-cr IT park in Chennai | newspaper = The Hindu BusinessLine | location = Chennai | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 6 March 2019 | url = https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/state-govt-to-build-230-cr-it-park-in-chennai/article26449312.ece | access-date = 1 May 2019}}{{cite news | title = New IT park in Pattabiram to provide jobs for 30,000 | newspaper = The Hindu | location = Chennai | pages = 3 | publisher = Kasturi & Sons | date = 11 March 2019 | url = https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu/20190311/281651076421698 | access-date = 1 May 2019}} Dell Technology and Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) have shown interest to move to Avadi. iDEX a Central Government IT Company for Defence export is expected to invest 1000 crores in Tidel Park Avadi - Pattabiram.

In addition to military establishments, Avadi also houses a number of IT/ITES and other service sector-based firms.

Defence Industrial Corridor

Avadi in Chennai is the major and biggest defence industrial corridor stands out first in the defence exports of the state which headquarters many defence industries for numerous defence manufacturing public undertakings such as Heavy Vehicles Factory, Armoured Vehicles Nigam, Engine Factory Avadi, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, DRDO and Ordnance Depot.

The major defence establishments with divisions in Avadi are the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), EFA-Engine Factory, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indian Navy, Central Vehicle Depot (CVD), The Ordnance Depot (OD), Unfit Vehicles Park (UVP) and the Ordnance Clothing Factory (OCF).

The Indian Air Force has a Mechanical Transport Training Institute Technical (MTTI) here for training its personnel on driving and repairing vehicles, and also a base repair depot for repair and maintenance of its various equipment. CVRDE undertakes major research on battle tanks and other combat vehicles. MBT Arjuns, armoured ambulances, Combat Improved Ajeyas and Nag anti-tank missiles are some of the recent products from CVRDE. The Heavy Vehicles Factory produces an indigenous version of the T-72 tank known as Ajeya. HVF also produces the main battle tank Arjun. The production of T-90S Bhishma tanks started in 2006–2007. The Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) also has a division in Avadi, the TN 2nd and 5th Battalion.

There was a World War II airfield at Red Hills, Sholavaram, approachable from the junction close to the CRPF Camp, Avadi, immediately after the Military Hospital.

Manufacturing Industrial Hub

Avadi is around 7 km from Ambattur Industrial Estate and 22 km from Sriperambudur - Irungattukottai Sipcot Industrial Park.

Demographics

|1951|5979 |1961|13050 |1971|77413 |1981|124701 |1991|183215 |2001|230913 |2011|345996

According to the 2011 census, Avadi had a population of 345,996 with a sex-ratio of 970 females for every 1,000 males, well above the national average of 929. A total of 36,091 were under the age of six, constituting 18,419 males and 17,672 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 16.16% and 0.63% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the city was 81.76%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The city had a total of 87,733 households. There were a total of 127,152 workers, comprising 787 cultivators, 1,095 main agricultural labourers, 1,444 in household industries, 111,013 other workers, 12,813 marginal workers, 221 marginal cultivators, 310 marginal agricultural labourers, 449 marginal workers in household industries and 11,833 other marginal workers. As per the religious census of 2011, Avadi had 84.23% Hindus, 4.56% Muslims, 10.69% Christians, 0.07% Sikhs, 0.03% Buddhists, 0.08% Jains, 0.3% following other religions and 0.03% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.

From 229,403 in 2001, the population of Avadi grew to 344,701 in 2011, registering a decadal population growth of 50%.{{cite news | last = Kalyanaraman | first = M. | title = Migration Spurs Suburban Sprawl | newspaper = The Times of India epaper | location = Chennai | date = 25 October 2011 | url = http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/10/25&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00600&ViewMode=HTML | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130518060156/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/10/25&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00600&ViewMode=HTML | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 May 2013 | access-date = 25 October 2011}}

Places of worship

There are many Hindu temples in and around Avadi. Karumari Amman temple, Chinnamman temple, Nagavalli Amman and Perumal temple are famous temples in Avadi. Many old generation temples are also present in and around Avadi. Thirumullaivoyal, a locality near Avadi, is famous for Masilamaniswara Temple, Thirumullaivoyal, an ancient temple of Lord Shiva, as well as Pachaiamman Temple. Vaikundhanaadhar Temple is located near Kovilpathagai; Angaalamman Temple is located on the Redhills road. Sri Venkateswara Perumal Temple in Kamaraj Nagar is a Vaishnavite shrine in Avadi. There is also a Sai baba temple located in morai, Avadi.

A handful of mosques serve a considerable Islamic population in Avadi. There are some churches over 50 years old, including Marthoma Church in Gandhi Nagar, CSI, RC and Orthodox Churches in HVF road. Also, numerous churches have been built in recent years; St Antony's Shrine is a Catholic church located at Avadi Check-post. There is a Jain temple, Vasupujiya Jain Temple, and a Gurudwara in the HVF estate for the Sikhs to worship in Avadi.[[File:St.Anthony Church Avadi.jpg|thumb|St.Anthony Church Avadi, alter]]

Avadi boasts of cultural and religious diversity and has a proud heritage of religious tolerance.

Transport

Railways

Avadi railway station is one of the important suburban terminal stations of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It lies on the Chennai Jolarpettai Mainline. Few express trains like Thiruvananthapuram Chennai Mail, Alappuzha Chennai Express, Chennai- Mangalore superfast express and Tirupati Chennai Garudadri stops at Avadi. The proximity of the MTC bus terminus to the railway station has led many commuters to choose Avadi as a transit point. Avadi railway station has the seventh highest footfall in Southern Railways with numbers exceeding 75,000 per day.

Suburban services

Avadi is connected very well with rest of the city by EMU trains. There are frequent suburban trains from Avadi to Chennai Central, Chennai Beach, Arakonam, Thiruvallur, Tiruthani and Velachery. By rail, Avadi is 45 minutes from Chennai Central, 24 minutes from Perambur and 15 minutes from Villivakkam. Some trains originate from here as Avadi has an EMU Shed, which handles the majority of the suburban train operations on the Northern and Western line. The Western line has 229 services a day and the North line has 83, which accounts 312 trains.

Roadways

Chennai–Tiruttani highway extension

The Tamil Nadu Highways department issued a GO on 4 October 2013 to extending the entire Chennai – Tiruttani highway to 6 lanes at a cost of ₹1.68 billion. The first phase will involve extending the road to 4 lanes – 100 ft with center median and encroachments have already started to be removed. The road junction at Avadi Checkpost connects Avadi Poonamallee road with the CTH road. The Chennai Outer ring road (ORR) passes through western part of Avadi.

Avadi Bus Terminus

Avadi bus terminus is located very near to the Avadi railway station on the Chennai - Thiruvallur High Road (CTH road). The depot is situated beside the bus terminal. Avadi is well connected to various locations of Chennai as well as rural areas surrounding North-western and Western Chennai. The main service provider though is the state-owned Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, TNSTC/SETC buses to Tirupati, Nellore, Bangalore, Sengottai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin operates from here & few private buses are also available.

Share Autos

Share Autos are one of the popular modes of transport there. Share Autos are mostly spotted near Avadi bus terminal and Checkpost junction. They usually ply between Poonamallee, Karayanchavadi, Pattabiram, Thiruninravur, Anna Nagar, Nungambakkam and Koyambedu.

Metro

The branch line of Line 5 (Chennai Metro) is planned along Avadi-Koyambedu stretch with DPR approved by Government of Tamilnadu on May 2025 and awaiting approval from Government of India, with land surveys currently in progress. As of 2025, Karayanchavadi metro station of Yellow Line is the nearest to Avadi.

Educational institutions

Schools

The Nazareth Academy (CBSE)
Nazareth Matriculation Higher Secondary School
Nazareth Primary School
Kendra Vidyalaya School
HVF School
Vijayanta School
Holy Immanuel Matriculation School
Air Force School, Avadi
Jaigopal garodia vivekananda vidyalaya higher secondary school

Colleges

S.A Engineering College
Murugappa Polytechnic College
Veltech Rangarajan Sangunthala Arts College
Nazareth College of Arts and Science
St'peter's Engneering College

State assembly constituency

Avadi is a state assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu, India, formed after constituency delimitation.[1] The areas included are Poonamalle Taluk (partially), Pattabiram, Thirunindravur, Tiruverkadu and Avadi (M). It is included in the Thiruvallur parliamentary constituency.

::data[format=table]

Year	Winner	Party
2011	S. Abdul Rahim	Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
2016	K. Pandiarajan	Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
2021	S M Nasar	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
::

References

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Muthiah, S.. (2014). "Madras Rediscovered". EastWest.
(2005-01-10). "Miscellaneous / This Day That Age : dated January 10, 1955: Avadi session of Congress". [[The Hindu]].
"Long way from Avadi". frontline.in.
"Madras Musings - We care for Madras that is Chennai". madrasmusings.com.
"Maps, Weather, Videos, and Airports for Avadi, India". Fallingrain.com.
(8 November 2018). "Paruthipattu lake on city outskirts to get eco-park on lines of Chetpet". The Hindu.
(18 June 2019). "Avadi becomes TN's 15th municipal corporation".
(14 March 2019). "Eco-park at Paruthipattu lake to be ready by month-end". The Hindu.
(2013). "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
(2013). "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Avadi". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
(2011). "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
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(5 October 2013). "Encroachments along CTH Road removed". The Hindu.
Sundaram, Ram. (2025-05-02). "TN govt gives in-principle nod for Chennai Metro link from Koyambedu to Pattabiram". The Times of India.
"The Nazareth Academy".
[https://www.justdial.com/Chennai/Holy-Immanuel-Matric-School-Avadi/044PXX44-XX44-160804074832-R1V4_BZDET Holy Immanuel Matriculation School] justdial.com
"Air Force School in Avadi".
"Murugappa Polytechnic College".
(4 April 2016). "About Vel Tech R&D Institute of Science and Technology".
[https://ncas.in/nc-as-profile/ Profile] ncas.in {{Dead link. (February 2022)
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