India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Equipped with latest hi-tech technology and built in less than three years with the world’s best brains in airport design and passenger services, Hyderabad’s new airport at Shamshadbad will start functioning on March 16 for international flights, according to Iftekhar Shareef, noted Chicago community leader hailing from Shamshadbad.

In a talk with this newspaper, Iftekhar Shareef who has been a witness and among the advisors for the airport project, said joining hands together to execute the first-ever Greenfield airport under public-private partnership, Hyderabad’s new airport is all set to attract world attention from the middle of the next month. He mentioned that the new airport is about 20 kilometers from Hyderabad and well connected to the city.

A flyover is coming up fast connecting the new airport from Masab Tank. The flyover will be connected to upcoming traffic from PanjaGutta and Secunderabad. The first trial flights are taking place and the airport will start functioning from March 16 for all domestic and international operations. The Rajiv Gandhi international airport at Shamshabad will also have the privilege of being India’s first "Green Airport".

The designers have worked on a new technology incorporating green designs. It is a non-polluting airport and passengers will have fresh air to breathe. Iftekhar Shareef’s ancestral residence happens to be just next to the runway boundaries.

A beaming Iftekhar Shareef also spoke about many new facilities, features added to make it the best airport in the world. The top ranking companies are involved in various functions for the new airport, he said. The cargo operation will be handled by Menzies, the business hotel by Accor with Novotel brand and flight catering by LSG Sky Chef and Sky Gourmet.

The fuel farm operation and maintenance would be undertaken by Reliance Industries, duty free and retail by Nuance and Shoppers Stop, parking by Tenaga and airport lounges by Plaza Premium of Hong Kong. The airport medical centre will be manned by Apollo Hospitals. The old airport at Begum Pet will be shut down from March 16, Shareef said. The Civil Aviation authorities will be running 120 special buses to several points in the city.

The fare will be just Rs 95 for the initial transfer of passengers. Like all other NRI Hyderabadis, Iftekhar Shareef is very keen to disembark on the new airport next month. Many distinguished Hyderabadi community members from Chicago are expected to join Iftekhar Shareef in the inaugural event at Hyderabad on March 16.