GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) promoted Rajiv Gandhi International Airport today received a Gazette of India Notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to commence operations from 0001 hours on Sunday, 16th March, 2008. The notification also confirms the closure of commercial operations at the existing Begumpet airport, Hyderabad from March 16, 2008.

This is in pursuance of clause 5.5 of the Concession Agreement signed between the Government of India and GHIAL on December 20, 2004.

GHIAL has also received the following additional clearances:

• Aerodrome Licence and Clearance for Operations of Fire Fighting Systems from the The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
• Environmental Clearance granting consent for operations from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB)
• Clearance for the airport as a notified customs zone.

About GHIAL:
GMR-HIAL is a joint venture company promoted by GMR Infrastructure Ltd., (63%); Malaysian Airports Holding Berhad (11%), Airports Authority of India (13%) and Government of Andhra Pradesh (13%), with a mandate to develop a world-class international grade airport spread over 5,500 acres in Shamshabad, about 25 kms from the main city of Hyderabad.

The airport is being designed to handle 12 million passengers per annum with a total project cost of Rs. 2478 crore in the first phase scheduled to be commissioned in March 2008. This project - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport – is set to position Hyderabad as a prominent player in the global aviation map contributing to the prosperity, development and economic well-being of the region.