Avadi

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Avadi
state_name=Tamil Nadu
metro=Chennai
latd = 13.12
longd = 80.1
altitude= 17
district=Thiruvallur
parliament_const=
assembly_const=
taluk= Sriperumbudur
civic_agency=
leader_title=Municipal Chairman
leader_name="Victory" Mohan [ [http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/29/stories/2006102914830400.htm "The Hindu" dated 29 October 2006] ]
population=230,913(2001)
postal_code=
website=
footnotes =

Avadi is a town and a municipality in Thiruvallur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Avadi is an acronym for "Armoured Vehicles and Ammunition Depot of India". Situated about 20 km north west of Chennai, it is surrounded by major defence establishments.

Geography

Avadi is located at coord|13.12|N|80.1|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Avadi.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Avadi] ] . It has an average elevation of 17 metres (55 foot)

Military establishments

The major military establishments having divisions in Avadi are Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, HVF, CVRDE, CRPF, CVD (Central Vehicle Depot) and OCF.

The Indian Air Force has a Mechanical Transport Training Institute Technical (MTTI) here for training its personnel on driving and repairing vehicles. CVRDE stands for "Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment", wherein, major research on battle tanks and its variants are undertaken. MBT Arjun, Armoured ambulance, Combat Improved Ajeya etc., are few of the recent products from CVRDE. The Heavy Vehicles Factory produces indigenous version of T-72 tank known as Ajaya. HVF is also producing Main Battle Tank Arjun, an indigenously developed battle tank from the portals of CVRDE. The production of T-90S Bhishma tanks will start in 2006–2007.

Historical Connections

There was a vintage World War-II airfield at Red Hills, Sholavaram. This was approachable from the junction close to the CRPF Camp, Avadi, immediately after the Military Hospital. Earlier, it also had a rail link from Avadi passing through Pattabhiram secondary station, PTMS, PTMS E Depot. Presently this rail line extension has been terminated.It was famous for motor sport activities until 1988. It witnessed an eclipse when the new race course began operations at Sriperambadur. This was in the infant stages of Indian motor racing. In its days of fame, the Maharaj Kumar of Gondal, Vijay Mallya and others used to race here.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Avadi had a population of 230,913. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Avadi has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 55% of the males and 45% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Nearby residential areas are The Vellanur Panchayat and Vellanur Village, Muthapudupettai, Defence Enclave, Veerapuram, Mittanemalli, Kovil Padaghai, Brindavan Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Kamaraj Nagar and Sabhi Nagar, wherein most of employees of the defence organizations live with their families. People from different ethnicities live in Avadi.

As of AUG 2008 : AVADI, one of the largest municipalities in the State, is famous for various wings of military establishment it houses. Comprising a cluster of areas such as Thirumullaivoyal, Muthapudupet and Pattabiram, the Avadi Municipality also serves as a chosen area for divisions of several defence establishments, including the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Heavy Vehicles Factory and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Though the municipality has a vast area of 65 sq.m. under its jurisdiction, nearly 25 sq.m. comes under the defence establishments’ control.

From a municipality in 1970s, the local body has now become a selection grade municipality owing to rapid development of the area. It has a population of 3.2 lakh spread over 48 wards.

Education

Avadi has a number of engineering colleges including St. Peters Engineering College, S.A Engineering College, Aalim Mohammed Engineering College, Vel Tech Engineering College and Vel Multimedia Engineering College.

Other schools in Avadi include Kendriya vidhyalaya's(H.V.F, A.F.S, O.C.F , CRPF),St Joseph's Matriculation School (founded in 1968), St.Antony's Middle School, R.C.M Higher Secondary School, Nazareth Matriculation Higher Secondary School, I.H.M. Girls Higher Secondary School, Jaigopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya and Vijayanta Senior Secondary School (founded in 1975).

Vijayanta Senior Secondary School - One Of The Best School In & Around Avadi.Vijayanta Senior Secondary School (VSSS) was started in the year 1975, located 1.5KM from Avadi bus terminus and railway station. VSSS has got a revolutionary history for staring the school. There was no separate school for the kid of employees working in Heavy Vehicles Factory (H.V.F).During that period it had become difficult for lot of kids to get admission in Kendra Vidhyala school since the number of school going population had increased by that time. HVF employees had raised the concern and staged protests to bring up the school during that period, after which the school was started in 1975 with just Ist standard class and gradually went up to Xth Standard. Then the school was upgraded to conduct classes till XIIth Standard. VSSS has shaped lot of professionals. The teachers were really good and always wanted their students to do well at every stage. Students of VSS school has received a class education and should be proud to have studied in Vijayanta Senior Secondary School.

One of the biggest schools in Avadi is NAZARETH MATRICULATION HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL. This school was started in the year 1976. Presently the school offers education to as many as 7200 students. This school aims to bring quality education. This school records highest pass percentage in 10th and +2 every year. The staff and the management are totally committed towards uplift of weaker sections.

NAZARETH COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE (affiliated to University of Madras) was established in the year 2000 in Avadi. The College is located at Kovilpathagai, Avadi, Chennai - 600 062. The college has a sprawling campus and a superb building. Sports and academics are given equal weightage. Nazareth College provides various placements for its students during the final year. There are many achievers in sports and games too. Many had represented University, District, State, and National in various sports and games like, Hockey, Volleyball, Football, Kho-kho, Basketball, Fencing, etc.,

NAZARETH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOR WOMEN is located at the campus of Nazareth College of Arts & Science, Kovilpathagai, Avadi, Chennai - 62. It is affiliated to University of Madras. It gives education for teacher trainees at B.Ed level.

Clubs

Cycle Club:

Cycle club was founded by Joel during the Late 1990's. He along with his school mates undertook a long trip to Poondi Dam, which motivated them to form this Club.

Sports Club:

NAZARETH SPORTS CLUB, instituted by Nazareth College of Arts & Science, functions at Nazareth College, Kovilpathagai, Avadi, Chennai - 62. It conducts various coaching camps for the students living in and around Avadi. Free summer coaching camp is held every year. Mr. A N Henry Maris is the present President of the Nazareth Sports Club. The club participates in various divisional, district, state level tournaments in Football, Hockey, Basket ball, Kho-Kho, Fencing, Kabadi, etc.,

References

External links

* [http://tiruvallur.nic.in/places/avadi.htm Avadi at Tiruvallur district website]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/avadi.htm Info from GlobalSecurity.org]
* [http://www.archdioceseofmadrasmylapore.org/parish_view1.php?uid=P011 St Anthony's Church]