(a) whether his Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has drawn up an ambitious
road map to set up 400 FM radio stations in the private sector throughout the country;
(b) if so, the locations thereof, particularly in Karnataka and the objective of setting
up FM Station throughout the country;
(c) the terms and conditions of the agreement signed between the private parties and
the Central Government in this regard; and
(d) the estimated revenue income from these FM radio stations?
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) About 400 stations have been identified, which are envisaged to be utilized for
expansion of private FM radio in phase II.
(b) In Karnataka, Bangalore, Hubli, Mangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Mysore and
Davangere are envisaged for expansion of private FM radio. In the year 1999, the
Government had allowed the setting up of private FM radio stations at 40
locations (Phase-I) with the following main objectives;
i) Expansion of FM network;
ii) Radio programmes with superior quality of fidelity and reception and generation of programmes with local content and relevance;
iii) Fillip to broadcasting and encouragement of new talent;
iv) Generation of employment;
v) Generation of revenue for the Government.