MAM
SBI General Insurance appoints Kishore Kumar Poludasu as managing director & chief executive officer
Mumbai: SBI General Insurance has announced the appointment of Kishore Kumar Poludasu as its new managing director & chief executive officer. He was nominated by the parent company, State Bank of India, for the position and has been appointed w.e.f 4 October 2022.
Kishore Kumar Poludasu has been associated with the State Bank of India since 1991 and held several positions with the bank during his tenure. Prior to his current role at SBI General under State Bank Group, he was the deputy managing director, as the country head of State Bank of India, Singapore Operations.
Poludasu is a seasoned BFSI professional with over three decades of experience in commercial banking, including large corporate/infrastructure credit, international banking operations, enterprise management, mergers & consolidation, etc. He has a strong track record of delivering long-term results, emphasising the organisation’s customer-centric culture, and providing value to customers at every touchpoint. The company is today poised for greater growth, and at this juncture, SBI General is vehemently driving focus on assertive strategies, agile processes, strategic partnerships, and right talent management. Poludasu’s experience will be of immense value to this roadmap towards the top.
Prior to joining SBI General, at State Bank of India, he had been involved in key projects and responsibilities which consisted of planning and strategic execution for expansion, driving sales and growth for the bank. Poludasu has also been instrumental in supervising the integration of systems, processes, and human resources during the merger between State Bank of Mysore and SBI. As an officer on special duty (OSD) from the State Bank of India, he was involved in the establishment of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), an All India Financial Institution (AIFI), for increased focus on financing and development of India’s infrastructure industry.
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.
