Glimpses Of Sahara : CSI Airport Mumbai
I dont remember exactly but may be around 7-8 years back, in the days when I frequented between London Heahtrow and Mumbai…An announcement by the Chief Stewardess of British Airways surprised me … “Welcome to Chattrapati Shivaji International Terminal…” she addressed !!! … I told myself that either, I have boarded the wrong plane or this stewardess has consumed a good dose of FREE Wine, that she was meant to serve us… Something was wrong!. I was supposed to fly into “Sahara International” from “London Heathrow” … How did I reach “Chattrapati Shivaji International Terminal” ???
As you might have already guessed, it dint take long to clear the dust. Thank Lord! I was at Bombay, Oopps !!! Mumbai, where I was designated to be. Only that the name of the Airport had been changed from SI (Sahara International) to CSI (Chattrapati Shivaji International)
Thats history!!!!… last week (2nd May 2009) I went to Saha…. Sorry! … CSI to receive some friend of mine . and once again that incident flashed before me. Well! This time I knew for sure that I was at the right place. The looks of the International Airport has just changed. It looks very different from what it used to be, Yeah! surely different for good.
If you have been outside Mumbai/India and have not been to Mumbai in while, I bet, you will have a similar experience that I had, surprised! The car park outside the arrivals has been replaced by a 4 storied Multilevel parking … The receiving areas has a proper canopy … some place to while away the long waits, sitting! … a small Clock tower … some Plam trees … some greenery …
So to reduce to your shock when next time you land at Mumbai, I have posted a few pictures below of the Arrivals at Mumbai CSI Airport! … If you LIKE SURPRISES and would like to keep it until you arrive to Mumbai next time … DONOT SCROLL DOWN!!!
May 5th, 2009 at 12:45 am
This is a joke, right?
I dont believe that these photos are of Mumbai Airport. In 1998, when I arrived in Mumbai, they had shahabadi tiles and women in white sarees with blue borden were sweeping the airport using sweeps made of cocomut branches! In marathi, it is called Kharata!
May 5th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Hey Nik,
Cool mate… the images are definitely refreshing. I just hope that with this change the passengers (tired!!) don’t have to walk for miles with their luggage!!
May 5th, 2009 at 1:33 am
@Rahul : Yeah! I was surprised too … Atleast it is blessing for those who wait for hours waiting to receive their folks … There are few stalls serving snacks and coffee …
@Dipak: The walk still probably remains, but atleast the the Parking Slots are marked now … So one can reach the address without much of an effort … “LEVEL 2 – F 24″ for eg.
…. and yeah! another good change I saw in mumbai this week… Announcement inside trains like Europe …”Next Station is Kurla” …. nice!
May 5th, 2009 at 10:52 am
gosh….vohhh!!! y is it so hard to digest…dat mumbai can be truly beautiful…leaves much to be desired..
May 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Hey Nikhil,
Good one. I am one of the people who don’t live in Mumbai but that is home to me and I frequently visit my home as and when I get a chance. I am thrilled when the aircraft lands at the aiport and I am truly proud at the way the airport looks now…
May 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I remember last time we ( me my wife and sashmita at 3 months old) flew to B’bay airport, I was allowed to walkout from one emergency door to car park where i found trolley…. cameback through the same door and walked out through custom again….heheheh
Things are looking up now….that was 2000 (sorry nike i was only there for connecting flight stayed one night at hotel on my way to Goa for Y2K).
May 29th, 2009 at 2:31 am
Hey Manish!
…. Well! I wasn’t around in Dec 2000 anywaz …. but yeah! you would have been welcome at home 
You are forgiven for doing such a shameful act
I can easily forgive you for not coming home to Mumbai …. but never do that if you come goa/banglore/manglore … will be happy to join you!
July 28th, 2010 at 10:45 am
what up. im just barely about to turn 25 and ive been laboring a a wee bit as a student model. Ive been doing yogi training for many months now and I plan to study in India.