Ulundurpet Airstrip

Military Decommissioning. The airstrip was built as a temporary base for wartime operations. With the conclusion of World War II in 1945, the strategic need for the airfield vanished. It was one of many such airfields across India that were abandoned by the British and not integrated into the permanent infrastructure of the Indian Air Force or civilian aviation network post-independence.

The airstrip is currently defunct and the land is owned by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The main concrete runway, though weathered, remains largely intact and is a prominent local landmark. The site is not used for any official aviation activities. It has gained local fame as an informal and unsanctioned venue for motorsports, frequently used by car and bike enthusiasts for drag racing, stunt practice, and performance testing. It is also sometimes used as a ground for driver training.

Constructed around 1942, RAF Ulundurpet was a significant Royal Air Force station during World War II. Its primary role was as a major training base, most notably hosting the No. 151 Operational Training Unit (OTU). This unit was crucial for training fighter pilots on aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane and later the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, preparing them for combat in the Far East, particularly for the Burma Campaign. The airstrip also functioned as a vital staging and ferry post for various squadrons moving aircraft and personnel across the region.

The Ulundurpet airstrip was identified as a potential site for development under the Indian government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) around 2016-2017. The goal was to establish low-cost air connectivity to the Villupuram district. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted initial feasibility studies. However, despite these early proposals and its inclusion in a list of potential airports, no concrete development plans have been funded or executed. As of now, there are no active projects to renovate or reopen the airstrip for commercial or general aviation.