Vellore Airport
Vellore Airport (ICAO: VOVR) is located in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. It serves Vellore and Adjoining districts. Its currently revived and under construction.
Vellore Airport | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
Owner | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
Operator | Airports Authority of India | ||||||||||
Serves | Vellore Metropolitan Area | ||||||||||
Location | Abdullapuram, Vellore, Tamil Nadu | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 233 m / 764 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 12°54′31″N 079°04′00″E | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
VOVR Location in Vellore VOVR VOVR (India) | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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History
In July 2006, it was re-activated in as a part of Airports Authority of India idle airports activation programme to facilitate regular flying by trainee pilots of the Madras Flying Club whose operations were restricted with the increase in scheduled aircraft movement at Chennai Airport.[1][2] The club stopped its training activities in March 2011.[3]
The Government of Tamil Nadu had announced that it would speed up the construction of a terminal building and make the airport fully functional by 2009 to allow operation by 45-seater ATR aircraft. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked on an "idle airports activation programme" in the Southern region that includes Vellore.[4] The Government plans to set up an aeronautical training institute and pilot academy in collaboration with Airports Authority of India.[5]
The airport was revived under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the MoCA in 2018. The AAI is planning to expand the airport by 66 acres to extend the airstrip and make it suitable for operation of a 20-seater aircraft under RCS.[6] Currently runway and terminal building works are under progress, all the required infrastructure works was said to be ready by June-2019 for operations[7] but the operation has failed to meet deadline and delayed many times, which has slowed the operation, the officials blame Highway Department for delay in handing over land for road space.[8][9]
Layout and infrastructure
Runway
The runway expansion of 850 meters is in works, which can accommodate 20-seat aircraft.[9]
Airlines and destinations
No scheduled airline serves this airport as of now.
References
- "Six idle airports to be activated". The Hindu. 17 August 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "Madras Flying Club gets access to Vellore airstrip". The Hindu. 23 July 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "AAI tells Madras Flying Club to stop training on Vellore airstrip". The Hindu. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "Six idle airports to be activated". The Hindu. 17 August 2006. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "TN Policy notes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- "Vellore may get airport soon". The Hindu. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
- "SVellore airport infrastructure to be ready by June 2019: AAI". The Hindu. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- Reporter, Staff (22 August 2019). "Delay in handing over land hits Vellore airport project". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- Reporter, Staff (12 December 2019). "Land acquisition woes delay Vellore airport project, again". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 December 2019.