(a) the number of radio stations set up in West Bengal including the Constituency of Bangaon;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the radio signals in rural areas of West Bengal; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
(a) the number of radio stations set up in West Bengal including the Constituency of Bangaon;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to improve the radio signals in rural areas of West Bengal; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE; MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a): Prasar Bharati has informed that there are 15 AIR stations (MW/FM) in West Bengal. There is no AIR Setup in Bangaon Constituency. However, MW Signals from Kolkata and Chinsurah Transmitters are available in Bangaon Parliamentary Constituency.
In so far as private FM is concerned, presently 14 private FM radio stations are operational in 3 cities, viz. Kolkata (8), Asansol (3) and Siliguri (3) in West Bengal.
(b) & (c): Prasar Bharati is providing radio coverage to most of the areas of West Bengal including rural areas. To improve the radio signals in the state, Prasar Bharati has implemented replacement of outlived transmitters by state-of-the-art digital (DRM) transmitters at Kolkata, Siliguri, Chinsurah and by FM transmitters at Kurseong, Krishnanagar and Balurghat respectively.
In addition to this FM stations at Cooch Behar and Bardhaman have been approved as also a FM transmitter at Allipurdwar, District Jalpaiguri.
Various AIR channels, including channels originating from West Bengal, are also streamed digitally, and are available on Prasar Bharati Website www.prasarbharati.gov.in and also on mobile app “NewsOnAir” available on Android and iOS platform.
*****