Cabinet Approves Over Rs 2,500 Crore For Doordarshan, All India Radio Infrastructure

Jan 04, 2023, 17:20 IST

NEW DELHI: The Government of India in a bid to improve and modernise the two important broadcasting divisions of Prasar Bharti, i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) has allocated Rs 2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26 for this purpose.

In a press release issued by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) it has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the Central Sector Scheme “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” (BIND) at a cost of Rs 2,539.61 crore for infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).

Prasar Bharati, as the public broadcaster of the country, is the most important vehicle of information, education, entertainment and engagement for the people, especially in the remote areas of the country through Doordarshan and All India Radio. Prasar Bharati played a stellar role in communicating public health messages and awareness to the public during the covid pandemic.

The BIND scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE, border, and strategic areas and provide high-quality content to the viewers.

Another major priority area of the scheme is the development of high-quality content for both domestic and international audiences and ensuring the availability of diverse content to the viewers by upgradation of the capacity of DTH platform to accommodate more channels.

Purchase of OB vans and digital upgradation of DD and AIR Studios to make them HD ready will be also be done as part of the project. At present, Doordarshan operates 36 TV channels including 28 regional channels and All India Radio operates more than 500 broadcasting centres.

The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively. The Scheme also envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote, tribal, LWE and border areas.

In addition to enhancing the scope of public broadcasting, the Project for modernization and augmentation of broadcast infrastructure also has the potential to generate indirect employment by way of manufacturing and services related to supply and installation of broadcast equipment.

Content generation and content innovation for AIR & DD has the potential of indirect employment of persons with varied experience of different media fields in the content production sector including TV/Radio production, transmission and associated media-related services.

Further, the project for expansion of the reach of DD Free Dish is expected to generate employment opportunities in the manufacturing of the DD Free Dish DTH Boxes.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said,the scheme will financially support Prasar Bharati in the expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development, and civil works. He said, the scheme will widen the reach in Left Wing Extremism, border, and strategic areas.

#Cabinet today approves Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme with an outlay of ₹2,539.61 crore to financially support Prasar Bharati in expansion & upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content development, & civil work #CabinetDecisions pic.twitter.com/DeMl4XoRqd

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 4, 2023