March 28, 2024
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is one of the most expensively built airports in India which facilitates around 40 million covering an area of around 22.25 sq km. Hyderabad is about 23 km away from the centre of the city and is accessible with various transportation facilities. You can get direct and in-direct flights to various destinations from this airport.

International flights connect this city with Middle East and European countries. National and international airlines provide regular services.

Design and construction of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport began in September 2005, and the airport was opened in March 2008. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport project is a public-private joint venture between GMR Group, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), the Government of Telangana and Airports Authority of India (AAI). GMR Group holds 63% of the equity, MAHB 11%, while the Government of Telangana and AAI each hold 13%.

RGIA, Hyderabad was developed in three phases, and upon completion provides infrastructure for 40 million passengers annually. After the first phase of development, it could accommodate 10 million passengers a year. The cost of the project was 24.7 billion (US$560 million).

The airport was built on an area of 5,400 acres (2,200 ha), making it the largest airport in India in terms of area. It was designed by the UK engineering design firm Arup, which designed Dubai Terminal 3 and Beijing Terminal 3.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has one passenger terminal, a cargo terminal and two runways. It has has  aviation training facilities, a fuel farm, a solar power plant and two MRO facilities. As of 2015, It is considered as the sixth busiest airport by passenger traffic in India.

The Airport served 14.3 million passengers in 2016. The airport serves as a hub for Air India Regional, Blue Dart Aviation, SpiceJet, Lufthansa Cargo and TruJet, and as a focus city for IndiGo.

RGIA is connected to the city of Hyderabad by NH 7, NH 765 and the Outer Ring Road. In October 2009, the PV Narasimha Rao Expresswaywas completed between Mehdipatnam and Rajendranagar, where it joins NH 7. The longest flyover in India at 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi), it has reduced travel time between the airport and the city to 30–40 minutes.

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