Question : AKASHVANI CENTRES SUB CENTRES

(a) the total number of Akashvani Centres/Sub-Centres operational in different parts of the country, State-wise and the details of the criteria fixed for opening of the said Centres/ Sub Centres;

(b) whether the Government proposes to open new Akashvani Centres/ Sub-Centres in the country including various districts in Maharashtra;

(c) if so, the state-wise details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has allocated funds for the development of such Centres/ Sub-Centres; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE(Retd.)

(a) Prasar Bharati has informed that presently, AIR Centres / Relay Centres are functional at 414 locations throughout the country. State-wise details are given in Annexure-I.

All India Radio sets up Akashvani Kendras with 3 tier system of broadcasting, namely National, Regional and Local to cover the entire area of the country by terrestrial mode of transmission:-

i. AIR Centres with high power Medium Wave (MW) and Short Wave (SW) transmitters at various zones for broadcasting National level programme to cover the entire country.

ii. The Regional (Primary) Centres with Medium Wave and Short Wave transmitters of suitable capacity at the State capitals and major cities in the country to cover the entire State.

iii. FM Radio Station to have Local Radio Station with FM transmitters in smaller cities in the country to cover that district / city.

(b) to (e) Yes Madam. Scheme for setting up of 190 new AIR Centres/ Relay Centres including 100 Watt FM Relay Centres under 12th Plan is under implementation. State-wise details along with funds allocated for the development of new AIR Centres / Relay Centres are given in Annexure-II (A) &(B).