MAM
$ 5 million in the kitty, Karthikeyan to race for Jordan in F1
MUMBAI: He has made it! India’s motor sport icon Narain Karthikeyan is all set to become the first Indian to drive on the F1 circuit. Tata Motors, along with JK Tyres and Bharat Petroleum, have put together the $ 5 million required to secure an offer from the Jordan team.
“Narain has been offered a full drive by Jordan as their number one driver. He has accepted it,” Karthikeyan’s manager Sanjay Sharma was quoted in a Reuters report as saying.
Karthikeyan is scheduled to address a press conference in Mumbai later today confirming the news. The 2005 F1 season starts in March.
It is pertinent to note that Karthikeyan had got an offer to race with Minardi in 2003, but missed out as he was unable to raise the monies required to secure the offer. Currently, $ 5 million is the minimum required to secure a place in F1 with any of the top teams.
An immediate spin-off from Karthikeyan’s driving for Jordan is that it will give huge positive traction on the advertising front for ESPN Star Sports, which has exclusive telecast rights for Formula 1 in India.
Karthikeyan has been sponsored by Tata Motors (then called Tata Engineering) since 2002 as India’s entry into the Formula 3 World Series motor car racing.
Interestingly, JK Tyres, the other sponsor, was earlier backing Karun Chandhok, who, along with Karthikeyan and Hari Singh, are the three Indians to have made a mark in the international motor sport arena.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
