Vellore is a city whose medical reputation has grown to international proportions. The Christian Medical College (CMC), founded in 1900 by Ida Scudder, draws patients from across South and Southeast Asia — it routinely appears in global medical rankings and functions at a scale that generates substantial aviation demand from patients and their families travelling from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and across India. Vellore also houses the North Arc of VIT University — one of India’s largest private engineering universities — and the Vellore Fort, a 16th-century granite fortification. Vellore Airport at Abdullapuram carries ICAO code VOVR and no formally assigned IATA code. Built in 1934, used by the Madras Flying Club until 2011, revived under UDAN in 2016–2018 with ₹65 crore allocated for development, and currently with a runway of only 850 metres under Category 2B classification — it remains under development for small turboprop commercial service and has no scheduled commercial flights as of mid-2026.
Quick Overview: Vellore Airport
| Detail | Information |
| Airport Name | Vellore Airport |
| Location | Abdullapuram, Vellore, Tamil Nadu |
| Airport Type | Public — Under UDAN development (no scheduled flights) |
| IATA Code | None (VOVR incorrectly listed as IATA by some sources; Wikipedia: IATA: none) |
| ICAO Code | VOVR |
| Owner/Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Last Active Use | Madras Flying Club (closed March 2011) |
| UDAN Revival | Selected 2016; ₹65 crore allocated; renovation from 2017 |
| Runway Designation | 07/25 |
| Runway Length | 850 m × 30 m |
| Aerodrome Reference Code | 2B |
| Elevation | 233 m / 764 ft AMSL |
| Coordinates | 12°54′31″N, 79°04′00″E |
| Distance from City | ~5 km |
| Distance from Katpadi Junction | ~11 km |
| Nearest Weather Station | INS Rajali / Arakkonam Naval Air Station (~70 km) |
| Flight Information Region | Chennai FIR |
| Scheduled Commercial Flights | None (as of mid-2026) |
| Runway / Approach Road Work | Ongoing (road widening ₹50 crore project from November 2025) |
Vellore Airport Location: Medical Capital’s Aviation Outpost
Vellore Airport is located at Abdullapuram, approximately 5 km from Vellore city centre. The coordinates are 12°54′31″N, 79°04′00″E, at an elevation of 233 metres above sea level. The airport sits on the Chennai-Bengaluru main line corridor — Katpadi Junction railway station (a major junction) is approximately 11 km away, providing strong rail connectivity for the region even without commercial aviation.
CMC Vellore’s international patient catchment — patients arriving from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Gulf, and across India — makes the case for aviation connectivity at Vellore unusually strong relative to the city’s population. VIT’s 70,000+ student enrollment generates student and family travel demand. Yet the 850-metre runway under 2B classification can only handle aircraft with fewer than 20 seats — a Cessna 208B Caravan class — limiting the commercial model significantly. AAI plans to expand the airport by 66 acres to accommodate larger operations once the state highways department transfers the required land on Abdullapuram-Alangayam Road. A ₹50 crore road widening project begun November 2025 improves the approach road.
Code, Terminal and Status
ICAO VOVR is the formal code. No IATA has been assigned — Wikipedia clearly lists IATA as none, and the airport does not appear in any airline booking system. No scheduled commercial flights operate. Runway and terminal works were underway under the UDAN framework but completion and commercial launch had not occurred as of mid-2026.
Connectivity and Amenities
By Air: No commercial flights. Nearest commercial airports: Chennai International Airport (MAA, ~135 km north) and Tirupati International Airport (TIR, ~100 km south).
By Road: Vellore city centre is ~5 km from the airport. Chennai is ~135 km on NH-48 (2.5 hours). Bengaluru is ~210 km (3.5 hours). Tirupati is ~100 km.
By Rail: Katpadi Junction (11 km, ~20 minutes) on the Chennai-Bengaluru mainline offers trains to Chennai (~3 hours), Bengaluru (~4 hours), and other cities.
No public passenger amenities for commercial use exist.
FAQs: Vellore Airport
Q1. Does Vellore Airport have an IATA code?
No. Wikipedia officially lists the IATA code as none. The ICAO code is VOVR. No commercial airline booking can be made to Vellore.
Q2. When will Vellore Airport have commercial flights?
No confirmed launch date as of mid-2026. AAI allocated ₹65 crore for development under UDAN, with runway and terminal work ongoing. The state highway land transfer on Abdullapuram-Alangayam Road remains a pending prerequisite.
Q3. Why is Vellore Airport development important?
CMC Vellore draws international medical patients from across Asia, and VIT has 70,000+ students. Both create aviation demand that an airport could serve efficiently if operational.
Q4. What is the nearest commercial airport to Vellore?
Chennai International Airport (MAA) at ~135 km north is the nearest major hub. Tirupati International Airport at ~100 km south is another option.
Q5. How long is the runway at Vellore Airport?
850 metres — suited only for Cessna 208B class (sub-20 seat) operations. The airport needs land acquisition for runway extension before ATR-72 class UDAN operations can begin.
