Govts nod to set up 31 AIR FM transmitters in border areas

The government has approved the plan to set up 31 new FM transmitters of the All India Radio in border areas, the Lok Sabha was informed today. In a written reply, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said the All India Radio (AIR) has already set up 36 frequency modulation (FM) transmitters at 33 locations in border areas. "In addition to this, schemes of setting up of 31 new FM transmitters have been approved for implementation in the border areas, including North-East states," he said. In addition to terrestrial transmission, Rathore said that 32 AIR channels can be listened through Doordarshans direct-to-home platform Free Dish throughout the country, including border areas.

To another query, Rathore said that there was no approved scheme to set up new Doordarshan Kendras (studio centres) in border areas of the country. The minister said the Prasar Bharati, which runs the AIR and the Doordarshan, has informed that new AIR FM stations have been approved for setting up at 213 new locations across the country, including 100W relay stations at 152 locations. "These new AIR FM stations are under various stages of installation," he added.