On 14 March 2008, UPA chairperson, Ms.
Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to inaugurate GMR Hyderabad International Airport's
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad. Phase I of the project will
have capacity to handle 12 million passengers. The ultimate capacity is 40
million passengers and 1 million tone of cargo, annually. The airport has a
70-metre tall air traffic control (ATC) with the state-of-the-art equipment, a
world-class cargo terminal, 42 aircraft parking stands with 12 aero-bridges and
30 remote parking bays, 60 check-in counters with common user terminal equipment
(CUTE) and 16 self check-in kiosks.
On 11 March 2008, the Civil Aviation
Ministry issued a notification confirming the closure of commercial operations
at Hyderabad's old Begumpet airport, and the commencement of commercial flights
from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport beginning 16 March 2008. The
notification is in line with the concession agreement signed in December 2004,
between the Government of India and GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL).
It is learnt that, GHIAL has received
the aerodrome license, clearance for operation of fire fighting systems,
environmental clearance from the AP Pollution Control Board and permission to
serve as a notified customs zone.
The airport has been built by GHAIL, a
joint venture in which GMR Infrastructure holds 63 percent, Malaysia Airports
Holding Berhad 11 percent, Airports Authority of India (AAI) 13 percent and the
Andhra Pradesh government 13 percent.