Avadi railway station

Avadi railway station (station code: AVD) is an NSG–2 category Indian railway station in Chennai railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is one of the major railway terminals of the Chennai Central–Arakkonam section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It serves the neighbourhood of Avadi, a suburb of Chennai located 23 km west of the city centre. It is situated at Tirumalairajapuram locality of Avadi, with an elevation of 26.85 m above sea level. According to a railway release in 2008, there are plans to develop Avadi station as a coaching terminal (satellite terminal) for Chennai Central railway station, on the lines of Tambaram station being developed as a terminal for Egmore railway station. Later in 2023, the plans of making Avadi, Ambattur or Villivakkam as terminal were dropped, and Perambur was chosen for development of terminal station.

Avadi
Indian Railways and Chennai Suburban Railway station
Avadi railway station at night; Avadi.
General information
Location	Tirumalairajapuram, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates	13.1182°N 80.1016°E / 13.1182; 80.1016
Owned by	Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways
Line(s)	West, West North and West South lines of Chennai Suburban Railway.
Platforms	4
Tracks	6
Connections	MTC, Avadi metro station (Proposed)
Construction
Structure type	Standard on-ground station
Parking	Available
Other information
Status	Active
Station code	AVD
Fare zone	Southern Railways
History
Electrified	29 November 1979
Previous names	South Indian Railway
Passengers
2013	40,000/day
Services
Preceding station Chennai Suburban Following station Hindu College towards Arakkonam Junction West Line Annanur towards Chennai Central MMC
Route map Chennai Central MMC — Jolarpet 213 Jolarpettai Junction 206 Kettandapatti 202 Vaniyambadi Kettandapatti Block Hut 198 Vaniyambadi 193 Vinnamangalam Vaniyambadi Block Hut 189 Vinnamangalam 186 Ambur Vaniyambadi Block Hut 182 Ambur 176 Pachchakuppam 170 Melpadi 164 Valathoor 159 Mel-Alattur 154 Gudiyattam 148 Kavanoor 143 Virinchipuram 137 Latteri West South Line 129 Katpadi Junction 124 Seevur 118 Thiruvalam 112 Mukundarayapuram 105 Walajah Road 98 Marudhalam 94 Thalangai 90 Sholinghur 86 Mahendravady 80 Anavardhikhanpettai 76 Chitteri Melpakam West North Line South West Line 69 Arakkonam Junction Puliyamangalam Mosur 58 Thiruvalangadu 54 Manavur Kosasthalaiyar River Senji Panambakkam Kadambattur 45 Egattur 42 Tiruvallur Puttlur 36 Sevvapet Road 32 Veppampattu 29 Thiruninravur 26 Nemilichery 29 Pattabiram Military Siding Engineering Depot 28 Pattabiram Military Siding 25 Pattabiram 24 Hindu College 21 Avadi Red Line 18 Annanur 17 Thirumullaivoyal 15 Ambattur Red Line 14 Pattaravakkam 12 Korattur ICF Furnishing Factory 13 Anna Nagar West 12 Padi 9 Villivakkam Red Line 8 Perambur Loco Works 6 Perambur Carriage Works 5 Perambur Purple Line 4 Vyasarpadi Jeeva North Line to Chennai Beach 2 Basin Bridge 0 Chennai Central MMC
Location

History

The first lines in the station were electrified on 29 November 1979, with the electrification of the Chennai Central–Tiruvallur section. The EMU car shed lines at Avadi were electrified on 1 February 1980. Additional lines at the station were electrified on 2 October 1986, with the electrification of the Villivakkam–Avadi section.

The electrification preliminaries, such as poles, were observed on the railway lines passing through Avadi Railway Station as early as 1977. The first broad-gauge electric EMUs were first introduced on the Madras Central–Gummidipoondi section by 1979 and in the next phase on the Madras Central–Tiruvallur section around 1980. From around 1971 to 1980, there these beastly WP steam locomotives that were hauling the Suburban trains going up to Tiruvallur and Gumidipoondi. The WDS category shuttle diesel were seen pulling the Pattabiram Military Siding trains going up to E Depot in the Avadi Air Force Station Cantonment Area. It helped identifying the trains. As for the express trains passing through Avadi, those were diesel electrics. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was probably the Baldwin Class WP steam locos that were hauling trains such as Dadar Express and Bombay Mail from Kalyan, taking over the duties from the mighty WCM DC Electrics operating on the Bombay–Kalyan route.

Layout

The station has six tracks, including two loop lines, and has four platforms. The first platform is a side platform housing the station's entrance and the ticket counter, and the second and third are part of an island platform. The fourth platform borders the northern end of the station and is the longest of all the platforms. The platforms are connected by means of a footbridge.

As of 2013, the station handles about 40,000 passengers a day.

Station layout

G	North Entrance Street level	Exit/Entrance & ticket counter
P	FOB, Side platform | P4 – Express Lines
	Platform 4	Towards → MGR Chennai Central
	Platform 3	Towards ← Arakkonam Junction / Jolarpettai Junction
	FOB, Island platform | P2 Doors will open on the left | P3 – Express Lines
	Platform 2	Towards → Chennai Central MMC next station is Annanur
	Platform 1	Towards ← Arakkonam Junction next station is Hindu College
	FOB, Side platform | P1 Doors will open on the left
G	South Entrance Street level	Exit/Entrance & ticket counter

Projects and development

Avadi is one of the 73 stations in Tamil Nadu to be named for upgradation under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways. It is also in the Chennai Suburban Railway network that are being developed as Adarsh stations.

A metro rail connectivity to Avadi by Red line corridor of Chennai Metro, linking this railway station is currently in DPR-planning stage.

See also

• Chennai Suburban Railway
• Railway stations in Chennai

External links

• Avadi station at Indiarailinfo.com