First Train from Sri City delivered to CMRL.

The first indigenized train for CMRL was handed over to Dr. Sudhir Krishna, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, and Chairman CMRL today (27th Feb, 2014) in a function held at Alstom factory, Sri City, Tada, Andhra Pradesh.

As part of the package with CMRL for supply of trains, Alstom, who is the manufacturer, have setup the factory in Sri City, which has completed the production, quality control and tests after which the trains was cleared for dispatch. The clearance certificate issued by GC and CMRL was handed over by Chairman of CMRL to the President of Alstom. In turn as a token of handing over the train, a model train was handed over to the Chairman, CMRL by President, Alstom during the function.

MD, CMRL Thiru. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Alstom, President Thiru. Henri- Poupart Lafarge, vice president Dominic Pouliquen, addressed the gathering. Director (Project) Thiru.R.Ramanathan, CGM( C) Thiru.V.Somasundaram and officials from CMRL, GC and Alstom and their staff participated in this function. The trains will be transported through road to depot at Koyambedu. This is the first train delivered out of the 33 trains to be produced from Sri City factory.



Source: Chennai Metro Rail FB.

Metro-III project ready to chug along

After much delay, the Prithviraj Chavan-led cabinet Wednesday gave its nod to the fully elevated and underground Mumbai Metro-III service, which is touted as one of the costliest infrastructure projects in Mumbai.

It also granted a go ahead to the state administration to hike stamp duty on property transactions in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by another 1 per cent to fund major urban transportation projects like the proposed Metro and Monorail corridors.

With this, the stamp duty in Mumbai will now be 6 per cent and in other MMR areas, 7 per cent. A similar decision was earlier taken for raising resources for Pune and Nagpur metro corridors.
To raise resources for the Metro project, the government will collect a betterment charge from construction projects within 500 m of the transport corridor, while offering them additional floor space index (FSI) of up to 4 on payment of premium at 100 per cent of the ready reckoner rates.

Construction projects – including the ones for redevelopment – will be doubly hit with the government citing the same reason for proposing hike in development charges from such projects.
During the cabinet meeting, Congress minister Naseem Khan raised the flag over the stamp duty hike. State officials however reasoned that it was as per Union government’s guidelines.

The Metro service is to run along the 33.5-km long Colaba-Bandra-Seepz route, and estimated to cost Rs 23,136 crore.
The underground Metro service was earlier meant to be built under PPP but the plan was deemed financially unviable and scrapped. Under the new model, about 57 per cent of the project cost will be raised through a loan from Japanese Investment Corporation Agency (JICA). The state and the Centre will contribute Rs 2,403 crore each in equity. Another 1,650 crore will be raised through subordinate debt and taxes. The revenue collected through hike in stamp duty, development charges and betterment charge will be used to raise another Rs 1,000 crore for the project. The finance department had raised concerns regarding the financial model.

The cabinet’s clearance was also essential for re-constitution of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corp (MMRC) as a joint venture between the state government and the Union government as per the latter’s conditions, and the installation of a fresh board of directors to take key decisions about the project.

The process of pre-qualification bids for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro was held up for nearly four months between October and January, as senior MMRDA officials were awaiting the cabinet’s nod for the reconstitution of the MMRC. The development authority had invited pre-qualification proposals in September. The last date for the submission of pre-qualification bids is now March 10.

ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಲಗೇಜ್* ಅಡ್ಡಿ

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು: ಪೀಣ್ಯ-ಸಂಪಿಗೆರಸ್ತೆ ನಡುವೆ ಮಾರ್ಚ್* 1ರಿಂದ ಸಂಚರಿಸಲಿರುವ 'ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ'ದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಶವಂತಪುರದ ಲಗೇಜು ಹೊಂದಿದ ರೈಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ! ಹೌದು, ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ರೈಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ರೈಲು ಏರಲು 'ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ರೈಲ್ವೆ (ಕಾರ್ಯಾಚರಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ'ವೇ ಅಡ್ಡಿಯಾಗಲಿದೆ.

ದೂರದ ಊರುಗಳಿಂದ ಲಗೇಜು ಸಮೇತ ಬಂದಿಳಿಯುವ ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿಳಿಯುವ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು, ಎದುರಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಇರುವ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಏರಲು ಮುಂದಾದರೆ, ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಕಾಯ್ದೆ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಪ್ರವೇಶ ದ್ವಾರದಲ್ಲೇ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ರೈಲು ನಿಗಮ (ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ) ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿ ತಡೆಯಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಏಕೆಂದರೆ, ಅಧಿನಿಯಮದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಪೂರ್ವಾನುಮತಿ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ, ಯಾವುದೇ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯು ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ರೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಸುವಾಗ, 60x45x25 ಸೆಂ.ಮೀ.ಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಹಾಗೂ 15 ಕೆಜಿಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ತೂಕದ ಸರಕುಗಳನ್ನು ಸಾಗಿಸುವಂತಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ಯಶವಂತಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿಳಿಯುವ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಗದಿಪಡಿಸಿದ 15 ಕೆಜಿಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ತೂಕದ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳೇ ಇರುವುದು ಸರ್ವೇಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ. ಹಾಗಾಗಿ, ಅವರಿಗೆ ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರವೇಶ ದೊರೆಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ, ಪರವಾನಗಿ ಅತ್ಯಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.

ವಿಚಿತ್ರವೆಂದರೆ ಪೀಣ್ಯ-ಸಂಪಿಗೆರಸ್ತೆ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿಯು ಅತಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹುತೇಕರು ಇದೇ ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿಳಿಯುವ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನಿತ್ಯ ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಮಾರು 60 ರೈಲುಗಳ ನಿಲುಗಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬೆಳಗಿನ 'ಪೀಕ್* ಅವರ್*'ನಲ್ಲೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ರೈಲುಗಳ ನಿಲುಗಡೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನಿತ್ಯ ಇಲ್ಲಿಂದಲೇ 80 ಸಾವಿರದಿಂದ ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಬಂದು-ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬರುವ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳದ್ದೇ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯಾಗಿದೆ.

ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮಕ್ಕೆ ತಿದ್ದುಪಡಿ ತರಬೇಕು ಅಥವಾ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮದ ಪಾಲನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರೈಲು ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ವಿನಾಯ್ತಿ ನೀಡಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ, ರೀಚ್*-1 (ಎಂ.ಜಿ. ರಸ್ತೆ- ಬೈಯಪ್ಪನಹಳ್ಳಿ)ರಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪ್ಪಿ-ತಪ್ಪಿಯೂ ನಿಯಮಗಳ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘನೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ಅನುಕೂಲಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಹಾಗೂ ತನ್ನ ಆದಾಯ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಿಯಮದ ಸಡಿಲಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ ಉದಾರತೆ ತೋರಲೇಬೇಕು ಎನ್ನುತ್ತಾರೆ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ತಜ್ಞರು.

ಯಶವಂತಪುರಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಹೌರಾ, ನಿಜಾಮುದ್ದೀನ್*, ಲಕೌ°, ಇಂದೋರ್*, ಜೈಪುರ, ಮುಜಾಫ*ರಪುರ, ಹಾಟಿಯಾ, ಮಿರಜ್*, ವಾಸ್ಕೋ, ಕಾರವಾರ, ಭುವನೇಶ್ವರ, ಪುರಿ, ತಾತನಗರ, ಗೋರಖ್*ಪುರ, ಬೀದರ್*, ವಿಜಾಪುರ, ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆ, ಪಾಂಡಿಚೇರಿ, ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ, ಧಾರವಾಡ, ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗ, ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗ, ಚಿಕ್ಕಬಳ್ಳಾಪುರ, ಮೈಸೂರು, ಕೊಲ್ಲಾಪುರ ಮತ್ತಿತರ ಕಡೆ ತೆರಳುವ ರೈಲುಗಳಿವೆ. ದೂರ ಊರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ಬೆಳೆಸುವವರು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಭಾರದ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳನ್ನು ತರುವುದು ಸಹಜ. ಆದರೆ, ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಈ ಸೌಕರ್ಯ ಇದ್ದು ಏನು ಪ್ರಯೋಜನ? ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಜಾ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಸಂಜೀವ್* ದ್ಯಾಮಣ್ಣನವರ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ರೈಲುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 30ರಿಂದ 50 ಕೆಜಿವರೆಗಿನ ಲಗೇಜು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಲು ಅವಕಾಶ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಇನ್ನು ವಿದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ 20 ಕೆಜಿಗಿಂತ ಅಧಿಕ ಭಾರದ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳನ್ನೂ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಬಹುದು. ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ, ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು ಎಂದೂ ಅವರು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಒಂದು ವೇಳೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡಿದರೂ, ಪ್ರವೇಶ ದ್ವಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ತ್ವರಿತ ತಪಾಸಣೆಗೆ ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. ಯಾಕೆಂದರೆ, ರೈಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದಿಳಿಯುವ ಜನ ಧಾವಂತದಲ್ಲಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಏಕಾಏಕಿ ಬಂದಿಳಿದರೆ, ನೂರಾರು ಜನರ ತಪಾಸಣೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಸಮಯ ವ್ಯರ್ಥವಾದರೆ, ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿಯಾದಂತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂದು ಎಲೆಕ್ಟ್ರಾನಿಕ್* ಎಂಜಿನಿಯರ್* ಇಂಡ್ಲು ನಿವಾಸಿ ಹೇಮಂತ್* ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ತುಸು ವಿನಾಯಿತಿ ಕೊಡ್ತೀವಿ
'ಅಧಿನಿಯಮದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಭಾರಿ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಕಾಶ ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಆದರೆ, ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ತುಸು ವಿನಾಯ್ತಿ ನೀಡಬೇಕಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ ಈ ಸಂಬಂಧ ವಿನಾಯ್ತಿ ನೀಡಲಿದೆ. ನಿಯಮ ಮತ್ತು ತಪಾಸಣೆಯಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಯೇನೂ ಆಗದು. 'ಪೀಕ್* ಅವರ್*'ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಕಿರಿಕಿರಿಯಾಗಬಹುದು. ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ಒತ್ತಡವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು'- ಪ್ರದೀಪ್*ಸಿಂಗ್* ಖರೋಲ, ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು, ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ.

* ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ 4ರಿಂದ ಮಧ್ಯರಾತ್ರಿ 12ರವರೆಗೆ 60 ರೈಲುಗಳು ನಿಲುಗಡೆ
* ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು ಬಂದು-ಹೋಗುತ್ತಾರೆ
* ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆ ಇರುವುದು ನಿತ್ಯ ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ
* ಬಹುತೇಕ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆ ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ಮತ್ತು ಪೀಣ್ಯ ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ

ಪಾದಚಾರಿ ಮೇಲ್ಸೇತುವೆ ಶೀಘ್ರ
ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ರೈಲು ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಿಂದ ಯಶವಂಪುತರ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದವರೆಗೆ ಪಾದಚಾರಿ ಮೇಲ್ಸೇತುವೆ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲು ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿದೆ. ಈ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ ಕೂಡ ನಡೆದಿದೆ. ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ಪ್ರದೀಪ್*ಸಿಂಗ್* ಖರೋಲ 'ಉದಯವಾಣಿ'ಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ, ಯಶವಂತಪುರ ಟಿಟಿಎಂಸಿಯಿಂದ ಸಾಬೂನು ಕಾರ್ಖಾನೆಯ ಬಳಿ ಇರುವ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದ ನಡುವೆ ಪಾದಚಾರ ಮೇಲ್ಸೇತುವೆ ಮಾಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಿಗೆ ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಬಹುದು. ಆದರೆ, ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವನೆ ಬಂದರೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ಬಿಎಂಆರ್*ಸಿ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ಡಿ.ಡಿ. ಪಹುಜಾ ತಿಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಸಿಆರ್*ಎಂ ಅನುಮತಿ ಬೇಕು
15 ಕೆಜಿಗಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ತೂಕದ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳನ್ನು ಮೆಟ್ರೋದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ಯಲು ಗ್ರಾಹಕ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕ (ಸಿಆರ್*ಎಂ) ಅವರಿಂದ ಪರವಾನಗಿ ಪಡೆಯಬೇಕು. ಇವರು ಆಯಾ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಭಾರದ ಲಗೇಜುಗಳ ಅಗತ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ಮನಗಂಡು ಅನುಮತಿ ನೀಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Lack of co-operation amongst authorities deprives people of the much needed interchange points..

The first and foremost aspect that comes into my mind is the lack of convenient infrastructure to switch over to various modes of transport in some of the places. Connecting bridges from the metro station to the TTMCs would have worked very well at places like Banashankari and Vijayanagar. I don’t know what is really in store for KR Market where one may be forced to walk for nearly 400 metres on a dreadful road, for boarding a bus at Kalasipalya bus station. It might be worse than what I think as there are 3 places where buses terminate at KR Market (Mosque, Kalasipalya and Victoria Hospital Gate), while the market itself is not at a convenient point from any of the bus stations or the metro station. Even if the new bus station that is proposed to be built would ensure that all buses terminate at the same place, how convenient it would be for passengers to walk from the metro station, remains to be seen.

Another case in point is Yeshwantpur. It is really good that BMRCL targeted the rail passengers from almost all the prime residential localities in South Bangalore, besides Malleshwaram, Rajajinagar, Mahalakshmi Layout, but the residents of Rajkumar road, Prakash Nagar, RT Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Mattikere etc. too should have received some consideration. Of course, it is not possible to lay another metro line but it would have been good if the metro station were connected to the TTMC with a provision to descend to the platforms of the railway station. The same plan would probably work well with the Soap Factory station too, but since the rail passengers deserve some special consideration at Yeshwantpur, it is better to connect Yeshwantpur metro station, railway station and the TTMC by a common bridge. I doubt if this has been worked upon.

I hope this is not repeated at Kengeri, BTM Layout, Silk Board, Yelahanka, Hebbal etc. in phases 2 and 3. Phase 3 speaks of a line connecting Marathalli to Hosakerehalli via HAL. RITES report on commuter rail proposes to utilize the line connecting Byappanahalli station to HAL via BEML along Suranjandas Road. I hope they propose an interchange station at HAL. Also, this line, if extended to Whitefield or Hoskote (touted as the new Bangalore), would intersect the Bangalore – Salem line at Munnekolal. A suburban station by SWR at Munnekolal, linked to the metro station at the same point would make it convenient for people travelling on the Anekal – HAL/ Whitefield/ Hoskote routes.

Yet another instance of the lack of co-operation is the proposal by SWR to develop a station at RPC layout along the Mysore line. I agree that it would benefit the people of Vijayanagar, Hampinagar, RPC layout etc. Had they proposed to develop a station at Deepanjalinagar, which has a metro station and is also served well by BMTC buses (including Vayu Vajra), the benefits would have reached a greater number of people. At least I feel so.

Interchange points should not merely connote those places where 2 metro lines meet, but also those where 2 or more modes of transport meet. From that perspective, it is essential that every station is an interchange point to some destination or the other.

Araneta Center’s Major Redevelopment Projects on the Fast Track

Araneta Center, known as the country’s premiere shopping and entertainment hub, is currently the fast-tracking the fulfillment of its 20-year Redevelopment Master Plan aiming to secure its status as the total lifestyle destination at the heart of the metro.

Among the projects on the rise include a hotel development; the renovation of Ali Mall, the country’s first shopping mall; the expansion of the upscale Gateway Mall; the construction of additional Cyber Park buildings along with the first transit-oriented residential development in the Philippines. One of Araneta Center’s anchor tenants, SM Department Store, is also giving their outlet a major facelift, with a project cost of P1 B, to complement all the major developments in the busy vicinity.

GARDEN INSPIRED, TRANSIT-ORIENTED

The Araneta Group forges a partnership with Megaworld Properties—developers of the country’s most successful techno-residential centers like Eastwood City and the IBM Plaza—to create a mixed-use complex that’s set to give a whole new meaning to the concept of a lifestyle center.

Manhattan Garden City is the first of its kind in Philippine real estate as the transit-oriented project will be the first to offer the convenience of getting the best out of the shopping and dining experience as well as proximity to all the major destinations of the metro via the two major light rail transit systems—the MRT 3 and LRT2—directly connected to the Araneta Center.

The mixed-use development, composed of 20 residential towers, will also be the first to incorporate garden-style landscaping in its three-story elevated walkways directly connected to Gateway Mall. It is one of the project’s unique features that is designed to make walking to the transit lines and around the Araneta Center as leisurely as a stroll through a park, further enhancing the new urban experience.

Occupying 5.7 hectares within the Araneta Center, Manhattan Garden City’s first phase has already begun with the construction of Manhattan Parkway, composed of three towers of executive studios as well as residential suites. Apart from offering a majestic view overlooking Manila Bay, Manhattan Parkway will also offer leisure amenities such as a fitness station, a spa, a gym, and jogging trails. It will also serve as the gateway to a myriad of different lifestyle and traffic-free travel options. Ongoing construction already underway with the first phase of the project, Manhattan Parkway
CYBER PARK

Araneta Center keeps up with the demands of the fast-paced digital age and the increased demand for BPOs with the construction of its Cyber Park. The Cyber Park is composed of eight hectares of prime space at the heart of the Araneta Center. It consists of modern 4-6 storey office buildings, with each floor measuring 2,500-5,000 square meters. It is now officially proclaimed as a PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) Registered Information Technology Park. This makes the new business hub even more attractive to PEZA-Registered BPOs and Contact Centers, who are required to locate in accredited zones in order to avail of fiscal incentives. Accenture, a major player in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry with over 100,000 employees worldwide, has established its offices at the Gateway Tower. Foreign-based APAC Customer Services Inc., meanwhile, is the first Araneta Center Cyber Park tenant, with a 2,000-seat call center established in Quezon City as part of their Manila expansion. Other key institutions in the BPO industry are exploring the possibility of making the Araneta Center Cyberpark as a site for their corporate offices due to its prime location to the major hubs of the metropolis, among them Advanced Contact Solutions and Agentworks Contact Solutions. Canadian BPO giant TELUS is also setting up their biggest facility in the Cyber Park, set to be in operation by 2009.

NOVOTEL MANILA

Accor, the leading hospitality player in Asia Pacific has formed a joint venture with the Araneta Group to build a new hotel in the Philippines—Novotel Manila Araneta Center. Targeted to open in 2010, Novotel Manila Araneta Center is located adjacent to the Araneta Coliseum and fully integrated with the Araneta Center Redevelopment Master Plan. Novotel Manila Araneta Center will be the only upscale hotel in Quezon City. With 415 rooms, a 600sqm ballroom and large meeting facilities, the hotel is well positioned to cater to the needs of the 56,000 registered businesses in Quezon City and to the MICE (both domestic and international) market. Its strategic location, at the intersection of two major thoroughfares (EDSA and Aurora Boulevard) and major mass railway lines (MRT 3 and LRT 2) will allow the hotel to position itself as the preferred venue for product launches, political summits, weddings and incentives in Quezon City.

UPGRADING THE SHOPPING AND DINING EXPERIENCE

The catalyst for the urban renaissance of the Araneta Center, Gateway Mall, has recently received recognition for its excellence in retail mix and design. Most recently it has been chosen as a finalist for the Urban Land Institute’s 2008 Awards for Excellence (Asia Pacific), recognizing the development’s efficient planning. Its expansion wing is currently under construction to add more excitement to the ultimate shopping experience. Gateway Tower 2 is a 25-storey retail and office extension integrated with the Mall’s unique amenities as well as the country’s two major mass transit lines. Ali Mall is also currently prioritizing its efforts towards revitalization, ongoing with a major renovation. The exciting project will include the refurbishing of the Ali Mall Cinemas to world-class standards showcasing state-of-the-art equipment to match that of Gateway Cineplex 10, hailed as one of the best cinema complexes in the country today. New escalators will also replace stairways for more convenience. A bridgeway will also be built to connect Ali Mall to SM Department Store for greater shopping access. Lush landscaping and wider sidewalks will be developed to create a more inviting streetscape. More importantly, Ali Mall will also be upgrading its merchandise mix to include more top retail brands and an inviting roster of dining outlets to reinforce its reputation as the country’s first complete shopping and dining destination

AT THE HEART OF THE METRO

With all these developments ongoing at the heart of the bustling metropolis, the country’s premiere lifestyle destination goes beyond providing Filipinos with over 40 years of the best shopping and dining experience. Araneta Center is taking the first step once again towards providing a lifestyle like no other—one that successfully intersperses work and play—within the hassle-free environs of the redevelopment projects that is sure to give a new dimension to today’s urban living.

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) / Ayala Mixed Use Development:

7.5 acre, 4 million s.f. mixed-use urban center including office and residential towers, business hotel and major retail center. The winner of a prestigious international design competition, this “garden city” is the nucleus of a new city center. The retail center is organized around a grand arcing atrium, the “Glorietta”, naturally lit by its tensioned membranes skylight. Architecture International designed this project for Ayala Land, Inc. with PRSP Architects.

Ayala Land - Balintawak Township

• Initial Render

• Location

nice!! yung mga future resident, magiging taga barangay tigas mukha...
magiging "Cloverleaf Market Market" na yan and I hope ALI also buys Balintawak Market and modernize it complete with Inter-modal facilities.

Further acquisition of lands in that area by Ayala will greatly revitalize the adjacent Camanava section. There needs to be a well-defined economic center in that part of Metromanila to counter developments south of the Pasig River. Quadrangle is too far to the east for Camanava and Monumento has no clear area to acquire and is too chaotic.

Ayala Land, Inc. recently acquired an 11-hectare property in Balintawak, Quezon City that will be transformed into an integrated mixed-use township project.

The Balintawak property, the site of the former Central Textile Mills, will benefit from the planned connector road project that will connect the North Luzon Expressway to South Luzon Expressway.

“Balintawak property will be beneficiary of the SLEX/NLEX connector road. It can contain residential, office buildings for business process outsourcing companies, a hospital and a shopping center,” Aquino said.

Vizag on track for metro rail project?

VISAKHAPATNAM: With the bifurcation going through in Parliament, the Centre is keen on developing metro rail projects at three locations in the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, including Visakhapatnam, Guntur and Vijayawada. However, the condition is that the civic body must have a population of a minimum 20 lakh.

As the population of Visakhapatnam city has already crossed 20 lakh, civic officials are hopeful of grabbing this opportunity and a team of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) officials, including commissioner MV Satyanarayana and executive engineer KVN Ravi, were invited to New Delhi to discuss projects, including metro rail. The GVMC officials were invited by officials from the Union ministry of urban development and transport after they got the metro rail project file from the state government that was sanctioned earlier when chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was in the chief minister.

Speaking to TOI from New Delhi, GVMC commissioner Satyanarayana confirmed that the Centre is keen on the sanctioning metro rail projects for three urban areas in residuary Andhra Pradesh including Visakhapatnam. "As Vizag already meets the 20 lakh population criteria the ministry has asked us to get ready for the preparation of the detail project report (DPR). If the project is sanctioned to GVMC, the centre will financially allocate nearly 90% of the funds as part of a special package for residuary Andhra Pradesh. The rest of the funds will be borne by the state government," Satyanarayana added.

The Centre also suggested that GVMC select four important routes that are not connected to any urban transport projects including the existing bus rapid transport system (BRTS) in the GVMC limits. If the project transforms into reality, the Centre will allocate Rs 200-250 crore to develop one km stretch of the metro rail project. "GVMC has already kept four important routes in mind to disclose to the Centre if the opportunity arises. These four routes are in no way connected to the existing BRTS roads in the city," Satyanarayana added.

The merger of Ankapalle and Bheemili municipalities will have proven to be a boon to GVMC if the metro rail project get sanctioned, the civic chief said, adding that it would have to be developed within six to seven years if sanctioned.

Metro III work to start by end of 2014-15

MUMBAI: An address by governor K Sankaranarayanan to legislators of both Houses, that underlines the strategy and priorities of the Democratic Front government, besides highlighting achievements, on Monday promised that work on the Metro II (Colaba-Seepz-Worli-Bandra-Airport) would begin by the end of the financial year 2014-2015.

"The 33.50km corridor, with 27 underground stations, will need Rs 23,136 crore and I hope it will start construction during the coming fiscal," the governor said.

The project's deadline is 2018. The state was one of the top-most in the country which had attracted highest foreign revenue and development amounting to around 18% of the country's foreign direct investment, he said. He said state increased electricity transformers by over 2.71 lakh to facilitate new domestic, agriculture and commercial connections. He said the state had topped in creating Aadhar cards, with around 8.2 crore having UID cards

Hindu's special feature article nagercoil edition

A slew of passenger-friendly projects introduced in the transport sector after Chief Minister Jayalalithaa assumed office in 2011

After Chief Minister Jayalalithaa assumed office for the third term in 2011, a slew of passenger-friendly projects were announced in the transport sector. Metrol Rail second phase is on; Mono Rail will also become a reality in few years enhancing city’s public transport system several notches. As for the passengers, auto meters, small buses in the city’s suburbs and ‘Amma’ mineral water for passengers have benefitted millions.

Even as you are reading this, the Metro Rail has started its sorties on the elevated stretch from Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar on a daily basis giving the city the glimpse of sophisticated, urban transport systems.

A couple of months down the line, four sleek coaches coated in bluish-silver will majestically fly through the city carrying thousands of passengers every hour. As a precursor to this, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa flagged off the test run for the first train that arrived from Brazil recently.

Spread over 45 km with 32 stations, the project that started in 2009 with a budget of Rs.14,600 crore has kept pace over the past five years. While 70 per cent of work has been done in the elevated corridor, the underground stretch has reached 40 per cent completion, officials said. When it becomes fully operational in 2016, about seven lakh passengers would travel in Metro Rail, contributing five per cent to the urban transport.

The key here is the integrat es at Airport, the Tirusulum junction turns into crucial transport hub enhancing connectivity for air passengers by creating an integration of bus, suburban and Metro Rail.

Reducing travel time

Further, to replicate the success in Delhi, a check-in counter will be created at Chennai Central Metro station that would enable passengers to check-in at station, take a train to airport, complete the security procedures and board the flight. Another two major junctions include the Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount, where other rail systems functioning in the city meet the Metro Rail. Such integrations improve mobility to the point of saving commuters about 50-75 per cent reduction in their travel time, say officials. So, if you hop onto to the Metro Rail, it may take just 45 minutes to travel from Washermanpet to Airport which will otherwise take over two hours by bus, depending on the traffic.

Breakthrough in urban transportation

Meanwhile, even as the Phase I of Metro Rail is shaping up well, the State government has announced Phase II of the project and a monorail system for the city. While the Phase II of Metro Rail will be spread over 76 km of the city with three corridors, the monorail system will cover 41 km with two corridors. Here, Metro Rail and Monorail will meet at Vadapalani and Kathipara junctions. Should these projects make headway, integrate and work competitively, the city will reach a breakthrough in urban transportation.

Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), another proven public transport system that is working well in cities like Ahmedabad could well become a reality in the city. According to transport officials, the BRTS model was being talked about at higher echelons of power.

The government can take credit to three passenger friendly measures. In September 2013, the Chief Minister introduced ‘Amma’ mineral water which is being sold at Rs.10 per litre in bus depots and stands across the State. According to transport department officials, the water bottles, packaged in a 2.47-acre facility in Gummidipoondi, sells like hot cakes. The unit processes three lakh litres of water every day. “People buy our water bottles as the quality is better and it costs lesser than the other mineral water bottles packaged by private players,” said a Transport Department official.

Lifestyle Network

Logo of Lifestyle Network since January 28, 2013

Channel Facts

• Launched: November 19, 1967 (on free TV), July 11, 1999 (on cable TV)
• Owned by: Hong Kong's TVB (free TV), Creative Programs, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of the media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation (cable)
• Country: Philippines
• Broadcast area: National, including Central Asia, East Asia, Southeastern Asia, South Asia and Western Asia
• Picture format: 16:9 576i (SDTV) and 16:9 1080i (HDTV) (since 3 November 2010-present)
• Slogan: "Live Your Passions" (January 28, 2013-2015)
• Availability: on Free-to-air (Analog (PAL-B and PAL-G) and Digital (DVB-T) VHF and UHF channel frequencies, digital cable and satellite television. 

About Lifestyle Network

Lifestyle Network is the flagship lifestyle, news and general entertainment television network owned by the Philippine Government and Lifestyle sectors through People's Television Network, Inc. (PTNI) and co-operated by Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) (50%), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. (25%), PhilSTAR Daily, Inc. (25%) and One Mega Group, Inc. (25%) since June 1987, the publisher of Lifestyle Asia and Mega magazines. Its head office, studios and transmitter are located at TVB Broadcast Complex, Bay City, Pasay City. It is served as the official television broadcaster of the Philippine Lifestyle Journalism.

Lifestyle Network Milestones

On November 19, 1967, First wireless commercial television in Hong Kong and in the Philippines. ABS-CBN TV-27 Manila (DZXL-TV Channel 27) was starts broadcast, with the Jade Network Programming on daytime and Pearl Network Programming on evening hours, with Chinese and English Hong Kong TV Guide for Hong Kong TV Stations published in the South China Morning Post, Manila Daily Bulletin showing the Time (__:__) and program title in Traditional Chinese and English.

TVB commenced broadcasting on 19 November with live coverage of the Macau Grand Prix.

On the same day, November 20, Balita Ngayon, the first national early-evening news broadcast in Filipino was launched and The World Tonight, the national late-night news broadcast in English was debuted.

Mga Balita Ngayon first aired at 7:00 P.M. from November 19, 1967 to January 5, 1975, then moved to 6:40pm and 8:45pm, 6:40pm in 5 minutes and 8:45pm in 25 minutes (national news) plus 5-minute national weather forecast at 9:20pm. On April 3, 1978, was cancelled at 6:40pm, the news moved back to the 7:00pm, while the local news aired at 5:30pm.

On July 21, 1969, Broadcast man's first landing on the moon via satellite.

On August 2, 1970, NBC Nightly News, the America’s early-evening national news program was first aired worldwide on the Jade Network at 6:30 A.M.

On June 18, 1972, for the first time the use of electronic news gathering equipment, TVB reported Hong Kong's Tsui Ping Road landslide.

On 1972, All TVB programmes on Jade and Pearl networks produced and transmitted in full colour.

On October 1974, Renamed on-air as “Government Television” (GTV Channel 27) under National Media Production Center (NMPC).

The PBA signed a contract with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to cover its games for over a million pesos.

On April 9, 1975 the PBA opened with its inaugural double-header at the Araneta Coliseum. With a sellout crowd of 18,000 watching, the Marisawa-Noritake Porcelainmakers defeated Concepcion Carrier, 101-98, in the opening game while Toyota won over U/Tex, 105-101, in the main game. Gregorio “Joy” Dionisio of Concepcion scores the very first basket in PBA history.

On July 1, 1976, the digital time contains hours and minutes were debuted on TV screens during the show.

On December 31, 1979, TVB Jade Network on Daytime launches Saksi: GMA Headline Balita, as a 15-minute afternoon weekday Filipino newscast from 1:00 p.m.

On February 1, 1980, it was renamed as “Maharlika Broadcasting System” (MBS TV-27).

On December 5, 1981, MBS TV-4 was the official network of the 1981 Southeast Asian Games.
In 1982, all of HK-TVB's regional stations were networked using INSAT 1A and a national feed called National Programme was introduced. Later that year, Delhi played host to Asian Games which were covered by the channel. To increase the channel's reach, the government launched a program to set up low and high-power television transmitters that would pick-up the satellite distributed signals and re-transmit them to surrounding areas.

By 1983, television signals were available to 28% of the Philippine population. Fueled by the success of the channel's commercialization and increased revenue from advertising, the channel's reach and popularity continued to grow and in 1990, the channel reached more than 90% of the Indian population.

On January 1984, HK-TVB Limited was publicly listed. Television Broadcasts Limited was one of its subsidiary companies (5 January).

On February 25, 1986, MBS became Lifestyle Network TV-27. Llita Logarta became first network station manager.

On 28 February 1986, after the Revolution, Geny Lopez returned to the country after self-exile in the United States and started rebuilding from what was left of the station. Recovery was difficult and resources were low, hence, former ABS-CBN employee Freddie M. García was brought in to rework the station's programming. By 1988, The Lifestyle Network had regained its foothold in Philippine TV ratings.

On March 7, 1987, TV Patrol was premiered to 6:30pm, while the TVB Pearl programming from 3:00 pm to 10:30pm on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays while the PBA Games aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays followed a public affairs program at 10:30 to 11:30pm and followed by The World Tonight at 11:30pm. Co-anchoring the newscast were Noli de Castro, a radio announcer for DZMM, Mel Tiangco and Robert Arevalo, both final anchors of Balita Ngayon. Now as the country’s longest-running news program. 

On November 1988, HK-TVB Limited restructured. Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) became an independently listed company and moved to ABS-CBN Broadcast Center in Broadcast Center complex in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City.

On December 1, 1988, the program was moved to 7:15pm to 7:55pm, Saturday & Sunday newscasts as “Saturday TV Patrol” and “Sunday TV Patrol”, moved to 6:00pm and 9:00pm, 6:00pm in 15 minutes and 9:00pm in 30 minutes. On October 6, 1990, was cancelled on Saturday & Sunday at 6:00pm, the news moved back to the 7:15pm. On August 10, 1992, was moved back to the 7:10pm to 7:35pm. In May 31, 1993, the show was moved to 7:00pm to 7:30pm, while the local news aired at 5:30pm before the national newscast at 6:30pm. In September 18, 1995, the show was moved back to the 6:30pm to 7:00pm, and now present.

In 1991, TVB Pearl began to broadcast in NICAM, a digital audio modulation system that provides a facility for stereo or bilingual or trilingual audio transmission. (For the digital counterpart, multiple AC-3 streams are transmitted for the same purpose.) With a compatible television, the viewer can receive audio in their choice of language; typically, English and Cantonese. Chinese subtitles are available on most programmes after 5:20pm.

In 1989, it launched nationwide domestic satellite programming and Lifestyle Network expanded into Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka via the TVB Pearl pan-regional feed broadcast from the Philippines in 1991.

Also worth mentioning is that beginning in March 3, 1991, TVB Pearl's presentation package became the same as TVB Jade's, albeit with some variations.

On March 26, 1992, President Corazon C. Aquino signed Republic Act 7306 turning Lifestyle Network into a private corporation known formally as Lifestyle Broadcasting Network, Inc.

Shortly after he took over the mantle of government in June 30, 1992, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Lifestyle Network's first board of directors.  The Network was given a one-time equity funding for capital outlay.  Since 1992, The Lifestyle Network has been operating on revenues it generates on its own.  RA 7306 stipulates that the government and business sectors shall not appropriate funds for the operations of the Network.

The Lifestyle Network is on a full satellite transmission nationwide since 1992 using PALAPA C2.  Its flag station Lifestyle Network TV-27, which is based in Pasay City, boasts of a 60-kilowatt brand-new transmitter sitting on a 500-ft tower. With its 18 provincial stations across the country, the Network has extended its reach and coverage to approximately 85 percent of the television viewing public nationwide.

As provided for in its charter, LBNI is mandated to give its viewers a balanced mix of news, public affairs, educational, cultural and sports programs and overseas-made TV series and films. 

On November 19, 1992, TVB celebrated its Silver Jubilee.

On May 2, 1994, an ident for the network set of four, shown during different seasons, were produced. This one lasted until October 18, 1997.

On March 8, 1995, the World Tonight moved to 9:45 to 10:30pm, while Philippine Lotto Draw was premiered at 9:30pm on the same day.

On March 11, 1995, The Weekend News was premiered as late-night weekend newscast at 12 midnight or 1am after Studio Nine-Fourty-Five. The anchors of the said were Erwin Tulfo, Rocky Ignacio and Mandy Navasero on Saturdays and Anton San Diego, Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Mons Romulo-Tantoco on Sunday, while Tulfo replaced by Joseph Parafina on April 22, 2006 on Saturday edition, while Buddy Orebas and Saleema Refran joined Prieto-Valdes and Romulo-Tantoco in July 2006 for the Sunday edition.

In 1998, Widescreen programming was introduced on digital platforms.

On November 15, 1998, Digital terrestrial television launches in the Philippines, broadcasting on British Digital Video Broadcasting — Terrestrial mode.

On October 30, 2000, the network, along with PCOO, PLDT MyDSL and PAGASA-DOST launches PAGASA Interactive Weather or PAG-ASA I-Weather, the 30-minute interactive weather forecast aired live from 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. and lasted until June 22, 2003.

On October 1, 2001, Kape’t Pandesal, the 15-minute reflections for the day produced by Jesuit Communications, was premiered.

On June 23, 2003, a week after the launch of Inquirer Lifestyle Fitness Fashion with Samsung, Panahon.TV was premiered on the network and aired at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays. This is co-produced by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration PAGASA, together with Lina Group of Companies' communication arm, UBE Media, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), PLDT MyDSL and Air21.

The TVB City in SM Bay City officially opened on October 12, 2003 and was constructed at a cost of HK$$2.2 billion. It was designed to cope with future development and expansion, especially for digital television production. 

On October 13, 2003, Pulso: Aksyon Balita is the first Filipino language-late night newscast of the network was premiered, with Karmina Constantino and Tony Velasquez as anchors.

On May 10 to 11, 2004 the network airs the marathon coverage Halalan 2004, which lasted from 7:00 a.m. of May 10, 2004 to 4:00 a.m. of May 12, 2004. The media coverage of the Philippine national elections that sees the win of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as president, Noli de Castro as vice president.

On August 13 to 29, 2004, the network airs the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. TVB paid the IOC $793 million (adjusted by inflation: $963,866,631) for U.S. broadcast rights, the most paid by any country. TVB broadcast over 1200 hours of coverage during the games, triple what was broadcast in the U.S. four years earlier.

On November 27 to December 5, 2005, the network airs the 2005 Southeast Asian Games held in the same city.

On October 14, 2006, a new ident was produced by TVB, and featured ribbons and curves in the three colours of the station- Red, Green, and Blue, pulsating about on the screen. Another secondary slogan was used by the network was "PTV: Ang Network Para sa Pilipino" with the station ID contains the statues of heroes including Ninoy Aquino then after that, the jingle goes: "Peee-Teee-Veee! Ang Network Para sa Pilipinooo!"

Part of its five-year expansion program for the network was started, the live coverage of the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar and followed by the mid-term elections of May 2007, also known as "Halalan 2007: Boto Mo, I-Patrol Mo!"

Two days ago, on October 16, 2006, ABS-CBN Headlines was premiered, with Tony Velasquez and Pia Hontiveros as main anchors.

Two months later, in December 2006, the 15^th Asian Games coverage was aired for 15 days.  The Doha Games will have over 120 hours of live coverage on the said station. This coverage starts before the opening ceremony on 1 December with preliminary rounds in Football and Basketball on 28 and 30 November and will end on 15 December.

The Network will broadcast 46 hours including 36 hours live, covering the traditional Olympic sports Athletics, Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Rowing, Canoeing and Table Tennis, plus Football.

Another channel was launched by the said network was TVB News, the new 24-hour English cable television news, public affairs and sports channel launched in May 2005 and already available across 48 countries, will transmit 150 hours including 86 hours live, focusing on the Olympic team sports Basketball, Volleyball, Handball and Field Hockey as well as Football and Snooker.

The Asian Games are the first step on the road to the 2008 Olympic Games. Further major events in TVB’s Sports division build-up to Beijing 2008 include the World Swimming Championships in Melbourne in March 2007, the World Athletics Championships in Osaka in August 2007 and the Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand in December 2007.

ABS-CBN covers the days of the Senate impeachment trial of President Arroyo via the top-rating marathon coverage On Trial: A Nation in Crisis with ABS-CBN anchor Tina Monzon Palma and ANC anchor Katrina Legarda, plus legal experts including Atty. Francis Escudero. ABS-CBN airs the Christmas special A Christmas Prayer, in relation to the country's present crises.

On January 1, ABS-CBN airs Countdown to 2007: The Weekend News Special Edition with anchor Erwin Tulfo featuring New Year events in Metro Manila.

On January 2 to 20, 2007, HK-TVB covers the final days of the President Arroyo impeachment trial via On Trial: A Nation in Crisis, and the reprisal of the EDSA Revolution that unseats Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president and makes Karen Lourdes "Tito Keren" Pascual the new president via the top-rating marathon broadcast EDSA Dos.

On May 14 to 16, 2007, ABS-CBN covers the Philippine national elections that sees the win of BBC World News anchor Rico Hizon as senator and the senatorial candidates sponsored by President Pascual via the marathon coverage Halalan 2007.

Part of the five-year expansion program (2007-2011), it's five-year contract with the UAAP, the network agreed in principle and signed a memorandum of agreement giving the broadcasting network the right to air the league's games for another five-year period with Season 70, is set to open with colorful rites on July 7, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum, in Quezon City.

On July 15, ABS-CBN covers the Siege of Malacanang and the Mendiola Riots, days before the State of the Nation Address, as it becomes victim to the rage of supporters of former President Arroyo wanting to unseat President Pascual, with 7 million pesos worth of damaged equipment and property.

On December 6 to 15, 2007, ABS-CBN covers the Philippines playing for the 24^th Southeast Asian Games, as the games are held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

On December 31, 2007, at 7:00:00 pm, TVB launched the official start of digital terrestrial broadcasting services.

On December 31, 2007 to January 1, 2008, ABS-CBN draws the biggest metropolitan and nationwide audience welcoming Year 2008, eighth year of the third millennium by popular belief, with a special live marathon worldwide broadcast THE GRAND ABS-CBN WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM. The network's top-rating broadcast includes 4 network-sponsored dusk-to-dawn millennium parties at Rizal Park, The Fort, Quezon Memorial Circle and Alabang Town Center and live coverage of millennium midnight celebrations all over Metro Manila, across the Philippines and around the world.


On July 14, 2008 airs the 2008 Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam. This is also the first time that the Miss Universe pageant was broadcast in 1080i High-definition. This pageant was held in a contemporary Communist state for the first time as well.

These games were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in high definition television. The Philippine broadcaster is PTV and other broadcasting stations in Philippines with other languages which are broadcasting all competitions, events, galas and ceremonies with the Paralympics. The first ever longest continuous HD coverage of the Beijing 2008 Olympics 16 days from 8-24 August 2008.

On February 2, 2009, a new ident was produced, it used some similar types of ribbons but this time they were are joined forming the TVB logo at the end. The sound was the same to the 2006 one but at the end they shortened the sound effect. The Station ID theme was "Always Be There" by Freeplay Music.

On July 11, 2009, the UAAP Season 72 was opened at the Araneta Coliseum, The opening ceremonies and the opening day doubleheader of the UAAP were the first programs in the Philippines to be broadcast in 1920 × 1080 (2.1 megapixels) 16:9 digital high definition, although only digital TV viewers with HD boxes were able to watch them.

On May 10, 2010, Augmented reality was first used for the 2010 Automated National Elections. The AR will be used to show the real-time breakdown of votes for each candidate and to air election reports by ABS-CBN correspondents from across the archipelago. On the other hand, the 103" touchscreen monitor will be used to show updates from social media like Facebook and Twitter and reports from Bayan Mo, i-Patrol Mo Boto Patrollers. The coverage last from 4:00 a.m. of May 10, 2010 to 5:00 a.m. of May 12, 2010.

On May 30, 2012, the satellite and terrestrial horizontal resolution was increased to 1920 horizontal and 1080 vertical pixels.

On July 1, 2012, a new ident was produced. The starting part of the background color is green and white, and there are several ribbons (with colors of green, blue, and purple) whirling to form a three-color (blue, green and red) sphere. While forming a sphere, the green part (from the background color) will soon turn to purple, and after forming a sphere, the background would be a bi-color (from left to right), purple and green. After changing the background color, the TVB logo appeared with the early 1990s style ("Spinning Logo" ident). The melody is the same as the last one, but the tone and the sound effect have changed.

On March 1, 2013, the ident has made some changes. The background color turns into white, and the colors of ribbons change to orange, blue, and purple.

Programme

For the first few years after its inception, the channel only aired educational and informative programs with news being one of the biggest draws. Once the national feed started in 1982, the channel started airing regional and local shows on time-sharing basis. For most Indian states, this meant one national and one local news telecast. 

TVB Philippines Chairman

• Ramon Cojuangco, Jr. (November 19, 1967-1983)
• Oscar Africa (1983-1986)
• Roberto del Rosario (1986-1998)
• Antonio O. Cojuangco, Jr. (1998-2004)
• Manuel V. Pangilinan (February 2004-present)

General Managers

• Llita Logarta (February 26, 1986-September 30, 1995)
• Chelo Banal-Formoso (October 1, 1995-January 31, 2008)
• Thelma Sioson-San Juan (February 1, 2008-present)

Video Clips of Family Appointment with El Shaddai

ORGANIZATIONAL SET-UP of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Fellowship International, Inc.

I. THE SERVANT-LEADER

The Servant-Leader is the spiritual head of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Fellowship International, Inc. As such, he is the principal symbol of true discipleship.  His role is to deliver the Good News of Salvation at the Prayer and Healing Rallies and fellowships of the Foundation and to draw up guidelines for its service volunteer workers to follow.  At present, the Servant-Leader of the Foundation is its founder, Bro. Mariano "Mike" Z. Velarde.

II. SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (CCRM) of the Archdiocese of Manila, through its Over-all Spiritual Director, appoints members of the clergy as Spiritual Directors of the Foundation  and keep its  teachings  in line with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. The Spiritual Directors oversee the training and development of the servant-volunteer disciple-preachers and core group members of the different chapters of the Foundation. At present, the spiritual directors of the Foundation are Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual, Deputy Minister, Deputy Ministry for Social Services, Archdiocese of Manila; Rev. Fr. Sanny C. de Claro, Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Asuncion St., Malate, Manila; and Very Rev. Msgr. Mario Castillo of Diocese of San Pablo. They were duly appointed by Most Rev. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani Jr., Over-all Spiritual Director, CCRM of Manila.
III. BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)
The Board of Trustees is reponsible for the management of the general affairs of the Foundation.  It has the power to amend the rules and regulations of the Foundation from time to time.  It handles all the business of the Foundation and the acquisition, through purchase or donation, of real or personal properties, materials, rights and privileges, etc. from either private or government sources.  Every year, new Trustees are elected from among the spirit-filled members of the Foundation or appointed by the Servant-Leader or his successor in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Foundation, as well as contingent rules being issued for this purpose.  At present, the BOT is composed of the following:

1. Sis. Leticia M. Zerda, Chairman
2. Bro. Jose T. Taniajura, President
3. Sis. Brigilda G. Morales-Mendoza, Treasurer
4. Atty. Guia C. Martinez, Secretary
5. Franklin M. Velarde, M.D., Member
6. Reynaldo P. Roberto, Member
7. Bro. Rafael C. delos Reyes, Member

IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EXECOM)
The EXECOM assists the Servant-Leader in the proper guidance and supervision of the Foundation, particularly in the implementation of its policies and guidelines, and in the assignment of servant-volunteer workers in its various ministries. It coordinates and evaluates all the activities, functions of its various ministries, and acting as a clearing-house for their respective needs. It processes and acts upon the programs, personnel, financial and logistical requirements of the Foundation and imposes disciplinary actions on erring servant-volunteer workers. At present, the EXECOM is composed of the following:

1. Dr. Bro. Franklin M. Velarde, M.D., Chairman-Executive Coordinator
2. Bro. Jose T. Taniajura, Vice Chairman and Deputy Executive Coordinator
3. Bro. Adolfo T. Victoria, Member
4. Bro. Reynaldo M. Vargas, Member
5. Bro. Rafael C. delos Reyes, Member
6. Sis. Emma S. Adoremos, Member-Executive Secretary
7. Rev Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual, Member

V. THE MINISTRIES 
The different ministries of the Foundation created under the EXECOM are the following:

• ADMINISTRATIVE MINISTRY.  This is responsible for the management of the following:

A. PERSONNEL AND MIS GROUP.  It provides the manpower that the Foundation needs; screens and recommends prayer-partners who would like to render voluntary services to the Foundation. Keeps the records of the servant-volunteer workers of the Foundation, oversees their welfare, and evaluates their performance. It manages the Secretarial Support Group, and Close-in Security. It performs the data processing and computerization requirements of the Foundation, particularly in the areas of membership and tithes record-keeping. It handles the Tithes Encoding and ID Sections.
B. SUPPLY AND PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT.  It handles the purchasing and storage of materials and equipment needed by the Foundation.
C. MEDICAL-DENTAL CLINIC.  It renders free medical-dental services to all members and followers of the Foundation.
D. TECHNICAL AND LOGISTIC GROUP.  It handles the proper use and repair of equipment and materials of the Foundation.  It implements the operations or plans of the Foundation.  It manages the following support groups: Mailing and Transportation (Air, Land and Sea) [Drivers], and Maintenance (Janitors).

FINANCE MINISTRY.  Manages and accounts the funds and assets of the Foundation, including its chapters in the Philippines and abroad, in accordance with the policies and guidelines set by its Board  of Trustee.  It formulates  rules and regulations to ensure that all tithes, love-offerings, and miracle-seed-of-faith-offerings of members and followers of the Foundation are properly accounted for.  It coordinates with external auditors in the preparation of its annual report to the BOT, as well as to the appropriate government agencies in the Philippines and abroad as required by law. It supervises the collection and counting of tithes and love-offerings. It supervises the Accounting, Treasury and Collection, and Internal Audit Departments. It manages the Cashier and Envelope Sorters, and Love-Offerings and Tithes Counters.
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT MINISTRY.  It trains and evaluates character performance of servant-volunteer disciple-preachers, staff and other servant-volunteer workers of the Foundation. It prepares the requirements for the Eucharistic celebrations and worship activities of the Foundation. It supervises the following: Monday to Sunday Morning Holy Mass, and evening fellowships (except Tuesdays) at Makati City, and the Saturday Family Appointment with El Shaddai at Amvel City in Paranaque City. It also handles the pray-over and counselling services of the Foundation. It manages the Disciple-Preachers Deployment and Monitoring; Guidance and Counselling Support Group; and Liturgical and Music Ministry.
SOCIAL SERVICES AND OUTREACH MINISTRY.  It renders Medical-Dental services, free legal consultations, disaster/relief and burial assistance, hospital and jail visitation, and other services to members and followers of the Foundation. It accredits and supervises the needs of the chapters and outreach operations of the Foundation in the Philippines and abroad. It supervises the Livelihood/Credit Cooperative/Social & Legal Assistance Support Group and the National and International Outreach Support Group.
MEDIA MINISTRY.  It directs and supervises the various programs of the Foundation in the spreading of the Good News of Salvation through the following:

A. BROADCAST: RADIO.  The DWXI (1314 kHz) AM Radio Station, with nine kilowatts of power, started airing the Good News of Salvation in 1982. In a survey conducted by the Radio Research Council, Inc., on July 19, 1994, the station, with 15 kilowatts of power, ranked third among the highest-rating AM stations in Metro Manila. This proves that El Shaddai has been increasingly using DWXI as His instrument in reaching out to troubled and otherwise hopeless listeners who find the courage to live by listening to His Word. On the occasion of the 14th anniversary celebration of the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on August 22 to 23, 1998, the station was re-launched with a broadcasting power of 30 kilowatts. At present, the station has studios located at Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village,  Makati City and the transmitter is located at Noveleta, Cavite and broadcasts from 4:00 a.m. until 12:00 midnight. Soon the station will broadcast on a whole day basis.  The Foundation also airs El Shaddai programs in other radio stations in the Philippines and abroad. DWXI 1314 kHz AM radio station is now heard worldwide including the Live Gawain Video Streaming: http://www.deltabroadcastingsystem.net TELEVISION. Delta Broadcasting System, Inc. (DBS) has also a UHF-TV Broadcast Station which is expected to be launched before the year ended, which its transmitter is located at Barangay San Roque, Emerald Hills, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City, to reach out over Metro Manila and surrounding areas. That is Channel 35 of Delta Broadcasting System. The Foundation aired its first live TV coverage on April 19, 1992 on Islands TV-13. El Shaddai playback also aired almost all Filipinos abroad over ABS-CBN TFC (The Filipino Channel) every Sunday morning (California and New York Time) since 2003. And on December 8, 2007, Bro. Mike receives an award from TV Maria Foundation, Inc. as TV producer for the program, El Shaddai, the result, this playback will be aired over the Cable and Satellite TV channel, TV Maria which seen on Dream Satellite TV Channel 1, Destiny Cable Channel 94, SkyCable (DigiBox) Channel 160, and other leading Satellite and Cable TV systems nationwide. Since then, its weekly Family Appointment with El Shaddai at Amvel City in Paranaque City and Tuesday fellowship have been aired twice a week on the said TV channel on a delayed telecast basis.  The broadcast schedule is as follows:

• Saturdays : 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
• Sundays : 12:00 m.n. - 2:00 a.m.

This is handled by the Radio and Television Programming and Monitoring.

B. PRINT.  The El Shaddai Miracle Publications (formerly called Liwanag Publications) was initially formed to take charge of a publication in Filipino, the El Shaddai Bagong Liwanag Magazine, containing insights on the Gospel as interpreted by Bro. Mike, as well as testimonies on physical healing deliverance from vices, and the like. The maiden issue came out on August 1, 1986 with 20,000 copies. To date, the magazine has a circulation of 200,000 copies per issue. In addition, a publication in English, the El Shaddai Miracle Newsletter, is now being distributed for free at the rate of 50,000 copies per issue. The Publications has also published several books by Bro. Mike, namely: “How To Win Your Battles All the Time,” “Mga Butil na Gintong Aral ni El Shaddai,” and “Bro. Mike, Bakit?” and the most recent is "With El Shaddai Miracles are Forever". These publications are being given for free to the members and followers of the Foundation worldwide, as well as to other religious communities, government offices, and various sectors of Philippine society. The El Shaddai Miracle Newsletter back issues including the final issue of the News Letter, is the feature: Pentecost 2001 Overnight Celebration at PICC-CCP Grounds. Soon to be uploaded on IPad, Android devices, and on Digital PDF versions.

C. AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPES.  In order to reach out to its more than fifty diocesan centers in the provinces and more than sixty overseas chapters, the Foundation sends to these areas audio and video tapes of its weekly Family Appointment with El Shaddai: Mass and Worship and Healing Rally from 1986 to 2013, Tuesday fellowship and other El Shaddai programs. The Tapes Administration handles the reproduction of those programs in audio and video cassette tapes. Soon to be uploaded in SoundCloud.com and YouTube.com under the account name of "DWXIGawain"