The rollout of the third-phase of private FM radio stations in India is set to go ahead following approval from the Committee of Secretaries. The rollout of FM-III has been delayed for nearly two years over various issues including objections from the Defence Ministry on the potential interference of FM radio signals with those of defence installations.

The Defence Ministry had suggested that all private radio operators would have to seek their permission before establishing any FM radio station under FM-III, especially when the radio towers were in the close vicinity of a defence installation. But a compromise agreementg has been reached, according to which the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry will share details of all sites where radio towers will be set up under FM-III. The Defence Ministry will get two months to communicate its views on sites. "In case of any objections from the Defence Ministry, the height of the proposed radio towers will be reduced to 25 metres from the mandated 30 metres," a top I&B official said.

FM-III will see the rollout of 806 new FM channels across 217 towns in the country. The private FM stations will cover all towns with a population of over 100,000.

(Source: The Financial Express)