CCEA allots Rs 1055 cr for Prasar Bharati’s Broadcasting Infrastructure scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday (February 6, 2019) gave its approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) regarding Prasar Bharati’s ‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development’ scheme. 

The CCEA has allocated Rs 1054.52 crore for this scheme for a period of three years till 2020. Out of this, an amount of Rs 435.04 crore has been approved for the continuing schemes of All India Radio, while an amount of Rs 619.48 crore has been approved for the schemes of Doordarshan. The continuing schemes of AIR and Doordarshan are at different stages of implementation and are scheduled to be completed in phases. 

Provisions have been kept for modernisation of existing equipment/ facilities in studios which are essential to sustain the ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) transmitters at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Setting up of Digital Terrestrial Transmitters (DTTs) at 19 locations and Digitisation of Studios at 39 locations, DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) Vans at 15 locations and Upgradation of Earth Stations at 12 locations have also been approved. 

The Cabinet also approved the launch of DD ArunPrabha Channel from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, to fulfil the aspirations of people of North East region. In addition to this, 150,000 DTH sets have been approved for distribution in different states in the country, which will help people in the border, remote, tribal and LWE areas to watch Doordarshan’s DTH programmes. 

For All India Radio, the Scheme provides for FM expansion at 206 places, digitalisation of studios at 127 places has been envisaged. FM expansion programme will benefit 13 per cent additional population of the country to listen the AIR programmes. Besides, 10 KW FM transmitters would be set up along Indo-Nepal Border, while 10 KW FM transmitters would be set up in Jammu & Kashmir border. These will significantly improve radio and TV coverage along the border areas.