The township of Avadi is located 24 km west of
Chennai city, on the road heading to
Tirupati. Avadi is well known for defense establishments and houses the Government of India owned Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Combat Vehicle Research Development and Establishment, ordnance factory, tank factory, and the army vehicle depot. Avadi also has an Air Force Station.
An industrial hub of Tiruvallur District, the Shaw Wallace, Southern Cables Corporation and Tube Investment of India are the major private enterprises at Avadi. It is also the headquarters of the Special Armed Police of
Tamil Nadu. A traveler’s bungalow maintained by the highways department also functions here.
Avadi Railway Station is situated on the Chennai-Arakonam broad gauge line. Ambattur town is 7 km away.