Sahar is perhaps the worst international airport in the world. It has two sections - one devoted to Air India and its partner airlines; the other used by all other major carriers. There is a world of difference between the two sections.
The main section (used by most airlines) is an apocalyptic hellhole reminiscent of Baghdad airport after it was bombed by the US. In comparison, the Air India terminal is relatively clean and spacious although in comparison with major world airports (even those in tinpot third world nations) it deserves at best a marginal passing grade.
Of course, the worst violations at Sahar are courtesy of the IAAI, Customs, and Immigration officials who work the airport. The lines are endless and you often wonder why on earth your passport is being stamped for the eighth time by yet another lazy, shiftless officer. One must add that this entire exercise often occurs at 2 am because that is when most flights leave India.
It appears that Indian labor unions have resisted privatization of this squalid edifice for years because they have a good thing going with overstaffing and minimal responsibilities. If Bombay wants to effectively compete with other major cities in the region like Dubai, Singapore, or even Bangalore, it must begin to deal with the neglect caused by years of socialist looting and mismanagement by the ministry that mis-manages the airports.