Hyderabad (HYD) | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

[ramkan]

Isn't that amazing. They even got drinking water fountains from USA. Just shows how thorough the project is executed on-time. Truly international experience for passengers.

[Cov Boy]

Very inspiring & gives hope to other major projects around the country.

[Desidude]

Inspirational story that was....I am beginning to like this GMR fellow.
Charity in his village providing clothing to everyone is really wonderful.

[Ved Vedamanikam]

Great article on G. M. Rao. We need more project managers like him who provide attention to every detail, especially aesthetics. May his tribe proliferate.

I pray that other air port projects (Chennai, Calcutta etc.) are entrusted to his company thru' (PPP) so that we get top quality infrastructure. I hope that AAI (who have a record of constructing cattlesheds) is NOT entrusted with the Chennai and Calcutta airports expansion and greenfield airports.

Ved Vedamanikam
Austin, TX

[raghussc]

any update on airport hotel ?

[ramkan]

It was to be ready by Oct 08, before the aviation convention

[Prodigist]

[Prodigist]

Originally Posted by ramkan

It was to be ready by Oct 08, before the aviation convention

What convention??? I thought GHIAL was hosting the ROUTES in 2009

[Prodigist]

[Prodigist]

Here is some interesting news for all of us... Its about the AEROTROPOLIS development in Hyderabad..
Source

Some excerpts from the news link

More than 500 executives from 30 countries are getting a full overview of the scope of the many projects underway worldwide at the Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition 2008......

The first phase of the world's newest airport city, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, India opened in late March. The 5,500-acre greenfield airport has a 10-mile by 20-mile area around it that's now being mapped out for an entertainment and hotel district, wellness and tourism district, conference and convention centers, mixed-use residential, nanotechnology park and gem park. On the airport, there will be a themed village with shopping and dining, four-star hotels attached to terminals, corporate office zones and convention center.

Hyderabad International Airport, though older and smaller, is being kept on line. The plan is to link the two airports by commercial development with an information technology corridor and ancillary mixed-use space.

Rajiv Gandhi will be linked to Downtown Hyderabad with a 20-mile elevated expressway for an aero train that's being touted as the longest in the world. "They had the opportunity to design this as an airport city and aerotropolis from the start," Kasarda says. "That's important because it's your calling card. It's the first thing people see and it's the last thing people see." The "city of the pearl" has used the jewel as its branding, with all entrances and exits designed to "give a sense of place," he says.

[Prodigist]

[Prodigist]

New Hyderabad airport developers plan expansion
11 Apr, 2008, 1023 hrs IST, IANS

It is barely three weeks since the new international airport at Shamshabad near here commenced commercial operations, but its developers are already planning an expansion that will enable it to handle up to 20 million passengers a year.

Work on the next phase of the country's first greenfield airport in public-private partnership is expected to begin in six to nine months.

Part B of the first phase will handle an additional eight million passengers. This will take the total capacity to 20 million. Under this phase, the 105,300-square metre passenger terminal building will be expanded on either side.

"We will have a replica of this passenger terminal building and runway on the other side," said A Vishwanath, vice president, corporate planning, GMR.
The second phase will create an additional area of 430,000 square metres taking the total built-up area to 900,000 square metres.

Source: Economic Times

[adheet]

Originally Posted by raghussc

any update on airport hotel ?

Originally Posted by ramkan

It was to be ready by Oct 08, before the aviation convention

Looks like the airport hotel is slated to be open this June:
http://www.novotel.com/novotel/fiche...he_hotel.shtml

[ananth9803]

Originally Posted by Prodigist

New Hyderabad airport developers plan expansion
11 Apr, 2008, 1023 hrs IST, IANS




Source: Economic Times

I really hope now that the AP Govt gets going with the 6 lane outer ring road and finish the expressway. And I hope the interchanges included in the design ensure smooth flow of traffic to the airport.

[harsh1802]

Originally Posted by Prodigist

Some excerpts from the news link

Originally Posted by Prodigist

New Hyderabad airport developers plan expansion

Freaking cool!

Nice find mate!

[adheet]

A candid user experience of the new Hyderabad airport:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=811962

It is really surprising that the press has not highlighted any of the positives in the new airport until now.

[harsh1802]

Huh....glitches ha? Where's the last post?

[harsh1802]

Press Releases
April 2008
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad
11 April. 2008, Hyderabad

The airport has successfully completed 19 days of commercial operations and its highlights / performance are given as under:

• The airport has handled around 3,80,000 passengers consisting of 57,000 international and 3,23,000 domestic passengers.
• A total of 4900 Air Traffic Movements (2450 landings and 2450 take offs) were handled. 263 Air Traffic Movements (ATM’s) were handled on 10.04.08.
• To facilitate the international callers for calling RGIA call centre from outside India the following telephone number 009140-44327300 has been provided. Indian callers should still use 1800-102-2008.
• Fuel intake has increased to around 1100 KL/day from 550KL/day.

Source

[mailabode]

Originally Posted by jammy97

Dude, BIAL opened late because of the elections and not because the ATC was not ready. Even if the ATC wasnt ready, we had the HAL airport and also the Yelahanka airport (next door to BIAL) ATC's waiting to guide the flights.

As per news, even HIAL seems to be guiding the flights the same way (ie from Begumpet). The DGCA was forced to postpone the inauguration of BIAL only because of political clouds over the state.

Its always good to hunt for the facts before making a bold statement.

You can present a true picture even to a blind man. But is there any use presenting the true picture and PERSPECTIVE to a man pretending to be blind?. He seems to have deep bias against BIAL and has already decided to criticize and would only seek to twist things to derive a meaning that suits his bias(from his posts on the BIAL thread).

[mailabode]

Originally Posted by Luckystreak

Reason why visitors are barred from entry into the airport now.

Looks like a picnic spot rather than an airport.

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Like the Begumpet Airport, entrance fee has to be levied to restrict people`s entry. Otherwise for every single passenger, the aiport has t o accomodate atleast 5 visitors.

They should be barred if they come in such large numbers.
Lets take a highway- whats it designed for?- for necessary traffic. If 100s of people go for a send off and if this pattern happens every day- this will only create traffic jams- and costly jams. Many of the people have an utmost necessity to use thse roads and infrastructure for productivity- for transporting your goods to super markets- to deliver ordered goods to your home- to get the city working and functional as we want it to be .. and many many things. If these people get delayed in unnecessary traffic- then the city does not work- there is huge and unnecessary monetary losses to many many people and institutions. Same with other infrastructure at the airport- its designed only for something. (Take Europe for example- people complain about some people who simply drive around in the city creating traffic jams, polution, driving slowly because they have time ..). To get life moving in a more optimal way- we need to optimise our activities. So far we might have been however- but here on we need to take realities into consideration and not listen only to our hearts- and in such situations let the mind take control of the heart and our emotions. And friends, if we can do this - this objectivity will go a long way in imroving our lives and society in a huge way.
We need to evolve- no need to carry on every old tradition for ever if a change helps impprove society. Remember its our country- we own it- and we dont lose but actually win by making it better 'with changes in our lives that make the system function better and smoother'.
Lucky Streak- that was a general post- not directed to you- just used your post as a starting point.