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 to commence operations from 0001 hours on Sunday, 16 March 2008.

The notification also confirms the closure of commercial operations at the existing Begumpet airport, Hyderabad, from the same date.

The notification has been issued in pursuance of clause 5.5 of the Concession Agreement signed between the Government of India and GHIAL on 20 December 2004.

GHIAL has also received the Aerodrome Licence and Clearance for Operations of Fire Fighting Systems from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

It has also received environmental clearance from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

The airport has also been notified as a customs zone.

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 airport.

The location of the airport is spread over 5,500 acres in Shamshabad, about 25km from the main city of Hyderabad.

The airport is designed to handle 12 million passengers per annum, with a total project cost of Rs2,478 crore in the first phase, which is now scheduled to be commissioned on 16 March.