Prior to the intermodal transportation center, Hongqiao Airport was refurbished in 1964 as then Shanghai's new major airport. In 2005, the idea of Hongqiao comprehensive transportation hub was officially put forward by Ministry of Railways of China and Shanghai municipal government. Shanghai Rainbow Investment Corp. was founded in 2006 by Shanghai government to be the sole authorized entity in charge of the construction and development project of the hub. As part of the infrastructure plan of World Expo 2010, the hub was completed before the end of 2009 and was put into use before the expo in 2010.