Planning (1997-2004) : Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (
Planning (1997-2004) : Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (
Planning (1997-2004) : Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (
Planning (1997–2004)[edit]
The existing commercial airport, Begumpet Airport, was unable to handle rising passenger traffic.
The state government lead by then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu initially considered
converting Hakimpet Air Force Station to civilian use; however, the Air Force refused.[6] When the
State proposed the construction of a new airport for the Air Force, the Ministry of
Defence suggested the State consider sites south of Begumpet Airport.[7] By October 1998, the
State had narrowed down to three possible locations for the new
airport: Bongloor, Nadergul and Shamshabad.[8] Due to its convenient location near two highways
(NH 44 and NH 765) and a railway line,[7] Shamshabad was selected in December 1998.[9]
In November 2000, under the N. Chandrababu Naidu government and the Airports Authority of
India (AAI) signed a memorandum of understanding on the greenfield airport project, establishing
it as a public–private partnership.[10] The State and AAI together would hold a 26% stake in the
project, while the remaining 74% would be allotted to private companies.[11] Through a bidding
process the Shamshabad international airport with already land acquired of 5000 acres is in
government possession and N. Chandrababu Naidu assigned bid to consortium consisting
of Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao(GMR Group) and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad was chosen as
the holder of the 74% stake.[7][11] In December 2002, Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL),
later renamed GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), was created as a special
purpose entity, into which the State, AAI and GMR–MAHB placed their stakes.[7][12]
In September 2003, the members of GHIAL signed a shareholders' agreement, as well as an
agreement for state subsidy of over ₹4 billion (US$56 million).[7][13] A concession
agreement between GHIAL and the Central Government was signed in December 2004,
stipulating that no airport within a 150-kilometre (93 mi) radius of RGIA could be operated.
[14]
Thus, the closure of Begumpet Airport was required.[15]
The project was forwarded by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy gained power and Construction began on
16 March 2005 when Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone.[16] Two days prior, the Central
Government had named the airport after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,[17] who had
undergone pilot training in Hyderabad.[18] The naming resulted in opposition from the Telugu
Desam Party (TDP). At Begumpet Airport, the international terminal was named after Rajiv
Gandhi while the domestic terminal was named after TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao; the TDP
wanted to continue this naming convention at the new airport. However, the new airport has only
one terminal.[19]
Roughly three years after the foundation stone laying ceremony, the airport was inaugurated on
14 March 2008 amid protests. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) repeated its demand for the
naming of the domestic terminal.[18] In addition, on 12 and 13 March, 20,000 AAI employees had
conducted a strike against the closure of Begumpet Airport, as well as that of HAL Airport in
Bangalore, fearing they would lose their jobs.[20][21]
RGIA was originally scheduled to open to commercial operations on 16 March 2008; however,
the date was delayed due to protests from some airlines over the high ground handling rates at
the airport. Once the rates were reduced, the launch date was set for 23 March 2008.
[22]
Although Lufthansa Flight 752 from Frankfurt was scheduled to be the first flight to land at
RGIA, two SpiceJet flights landed earlier.[23] However, the Lufthansa flight still received the
planned ceremonial welcome upon its 12:25 am arrival.[23][24]