A total of 260 districts in the country are not covered by primary FM transmission of the All India Radio (AIR), the government said today.

Under the 12th Five-Year Plan, new AIR FM stations at 18 places in the country, including Madhya Pradesh, has been approved as Continuing Scheme and New Scheme would be set up.

"Prasar Bharti has informed presently 260 districts in the country are not covered by Primary FM coverage of All India Radio (AIR).

"However, 100W FM Relay Transmitters have been installed at some of the district headquarters and major cities which have a limited coverage area of about 7-10 kms radius," Minister for State for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said as regards to Private FM radio broadcasting was concerned, only cities with a population of three lakh and above, besides state capital were taken up for bidding during the first two phases of FM radio broadcasting.

Presently a total of 243 channels are operational in 86 cities across the country, he said.

"Under 12th Plan of AIR, new AIR FM stations at 18 places in the country including Madhya Pradesh has been approved as Continuing scheme (7nos) and New Scheme (11nos). Moreover, schemes for conversion of eight of existing medium wave (MW) station to FM station approved under continuing scheme (3nos) and new scheme (5 nos) in the 12th Plan are also under implementation," Javadekar said.

The Minister said apart from these FM stations, 226 number of FM relay transmitters (117 continuing scheme plus 109 new scheme) including Madhya Pradesh are also under implementation in the country.

He said during the 12th Plan, an amount of Rs 114 crore has been allocated for setting up of new FM stations/Relay transmitters.

"With a view to further expand the spread of private FM radio services to other cities, the policy on expansion of FM radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase III) was approved by Cabinet on July 7, 2011.

"Under the policy, 839 FM channels would be auctioned in 294 cities which would result in coverage of all cities with a population of above one lakh (as per 2001 census). It includes 11 cities in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern Region (less than one lakh population). FM expansion is being taken up in a phased manner in the country under Plan schemes," Javadekar said.

 

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