One of the most prestigious projects that seeks to firmly place Hyderabad in the international map is the upcoming international airport at Shamshabad, located on the outer fringes of the city. The Rs 2283 crore project is being executed in a private-public- partnership mode by the GMR group Andhra Pradesh state government, the Airports Authority of India and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhard.

When completed. this project, spread over about 5400 acres, will he one of the most advanced airports in the country, capable of handling modern aircrafts like the awe-inspiring A 380s, coupled with a capacity of handling twelve million passengers per annum. With seven floors and 1.05 lakh sq mtrs of space, it also has parking space for 1500 cars. The facilities include 42 aircraft parking stands, two rapid exit taxi- ways and full parallel, taxiways for enabling a quick turn around for aircrafts. The runway designated Code 4 F is 4260 meters in length with a width of 60 meters and a shoulder of 7.5 mtrs on either side, giving it the enviable tag of the longest runway in South-East Asia. Moreover, there is also a provision for another runway in the north. Set to open in March 2008, the Rajiv Gandhi international airport is currently a beehive of activity, with over 3000 workers working to make this dream a reality.

The 25 km boundary wall around the airport is 100°, complete. About 40% of the passenger terminal building, ATC complex including tower, plus the technical building and airside land side work is complete. The impressive terminal building is in the shape of an inverted 'T' across seven levels.

Passengers who walk into the airport can breeze through with 60 check-in and two re-check in counters, there are also ten self check-in desks and 30 immigration desks, a long with a provision for six domestic bus gales. The ultimate plan is to have an air port that can handle 40 million passengers per annum. The terminal building will expand in the east- west direction and will reach a saturation point when it goes on to handle 20 million passengers per annum. When that scenario arises, GHIAL will look for an alternate terminal and a runway on the northern side. Interestingly, a dedicated cargo facility capable of handling 1.5 lakh tonnes per annum along with a cold storage facility is also being set op.

Airports in tier II cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati are also being developed. A draft of the MOU for the development of Rajahmundry and Vijayawada airports and additional land allotment has been made. Proposals are also being pot up to develop smaller airports at Tadepalligudem, Nellore and Kadapa. Night landing facility will short-ly become operational at Tirupati airport.

The long-desired expansion and modernization project of Visakhapatnam airport that has taken off, will be wrapped up by 2007. This expansion will see a new terminal coming up, which will have a spacious public concourse, check-in counters, frisking booths, centrally air-conditioned building, restaurants and bars, duty-free shopping, elevators, escalators, boarding bridges, child care rooms, baggage conveyors with on-line screening and other related facilities. The project, which has been jointly taken up by the Ministry of Defence, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Government of Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 191.52 crores, will facilitate the landing of wide aircrafts like B-767 and equivalent, besides having the facility of night landing. The present runway (05-23), which is 6000 feet, can only he used by B- 737, its equivalent and turbo-prop aircrafts. Since it cannot be expanded, a new runway is being laid, which can handle wide-bodied aircrafts. The new terminal building will have the capacity of handling 700 persons per hour. The building will be constructed with steel and glass and will have a high ceiling. It will have modern electromagnetic equipment and passenger boarding bridges. The air-conditioned terminal building will be used both by domestic and inter national passengers.

To cater to the demand in future, the state government is also looking to develop a new international air port at Visakhapatnam, the feasibility of which is being discussed by AAI.