(a) whether the Government proposes to expand the broadcasting capacity of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) Kendras during the 11th Five Year Plan;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering any proposal for providing AIR/DD coverage/
programmes exclusively for the benefit of the people living in backward and rural areas; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (DR. S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN)
(a) & (b) The details of schemes for expansion/ upgradation of Doordarshan Kendras (Studios &
Transmitters) implemented, so far, during 11th Plan & those presently under implementation,
as part of 11th Plan, are given at the Annexure. AIR’s 11th Plan proposal for the purpose
has not yet been approved.
(c) & (d) In terrestrial mode, Doordarshan coverage is estimated to be available to about
92% population of the country, including a large segment of population in backward and rural
areas. In addition, multi channel TV coverage has been provided in the country through
Doordarshan’s free-to-air DTH service “DD Direct Plusâ€. DTH signals can be received with the
help of small sized dish receive units.
At present AIR is having coverage of 91.79% (by area) and 99.14% (by population) and it
covers the population of rural/ backward as well as urban areas. In addition, AIR is also
providing 21 radio channels in Ku band on DD DTH Direct plus platform and it is available
all over India except Andaman & Nicobar Islands where DD DTH footprint beamed from the
Satellite INSAT 4B is not available at present.
ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION. NO.2910
FOR ANSWER ON 08.12.2009
I. Schemes for expansion / upgradation of DDKs (Studios & Transmitters) implemented,
so far, during 11th Plan (01.04.2007 to 30.11.2009)
1) Studio Centres 1. Gorakhpur (permanent set up) 2. Panaji (additional Studio) 2) Transmitters
(a) Upgradation from LPT to HPT 1. Hissar 6. Kokrajhar (int.) 2. Hissar (DD News) 7. Bikaner 3. Port Blair 8. Saharsa 4. Port Blair (DD News) 9. Dharamshala 5. Chhattarpur
(b) Upgradation from interim set up (1KW) to 10KW (permanent set up) 1. Kupwara 5. Balurghat
2. Kupwara (DD News) 6. Jalgaon
3. Vadodara 7. Kharagpur
4. Vadodara (DD News) 8. Barmer