Cabinet approves Rs 3500 crore scheme of AIR and Doordarshan for Broadcast Infrastructure and Network Development

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the 12th Plan scheme of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan "Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development" at a cost of Rs.3500 crore.

The scheme has two major components namely continuing schemes of the 11th Plan and new schemes of the 12th Plan. The continuing schemes of AIR and Doordarshan are at different stages of implementation and are scheduled to be completed in phases by 2015-16 by Doordarshan and 2016-17 by AIR. Under the new schemes, eight Television Terrestrial Transmitters are proposed along the Indo-Nepal border and these are targeted to cover 65 percent of the population of Nepal. As part of the 11th Plan scheme, the capacity of Doordarshan`s Direct to Home (DTH) is being expanded from 59 channels to 97 channels. During the 12th Plan, it is proposed to further expand the capacity to 250 channels.

This will ensure sustainability of DTH and increase revenue of Prasar Bharati. During the 11th Plan, 40 Digital Terrestrial Transmitters (DTT) were sanctioned and these are under implementation. In the 12th Plan, 23 additional DTTs are proposed to be installed. Provisions have also been kept for modernization of existing equipment /facilities in studios and satellite uplinks which are essential to sustain ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) studio facilities at Chennai and Kolkata. As regards AIR, FM expansion at 118 places besides eight FM broadcasting set ups along the Indo-Nepal border, replacement of old FM transmitters at 77 locations and six MW transmitters by FM Transmitters, digitalization of 29 studios and creation of archival facility at Guwahati are envisaged. Strengthening of training facilities, R&D and introduction of e-Governance with limited application of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) are also envisaged in this scheme.

http://pibmumbai.gov.in/scripts/detail.asp?releaseId=E2014PR659