Centre approves proposals worth Rs 3,500 cr for AIR, DD

New Delhi: In an effort to upgrade Prasar Bharati’s broadcast infrastructure and network, government today approved proposals worth Rs 3,500 crore for AIR and Doordarshan which include setting up of TV transmitters along the Indo-Nepal border. The transmitters are also targeted to cover 65 percent of the population of Nepal.[caption id=“attachment_1412981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Expanding reach. Reuters[/caption] The other schemes approved by the Union cabinet include proposals like expanding Doordarshan’s DTH platform and establishing infrastructure for AIR. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved the proposal of Information and Broadcasting ministry regarding the 12th Plan scheme of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development. The CCEA has given its nod to some schemes of the 11th Plan which are at different stages of implementation and also some new schemes, an official statement said. Under the new schemes, eight Television Terrestrial Transmitters are proposed along the Indo-Nepal border and these are targeted to cover 65 percent of the population of Nepal, the statement said. As part of the 11th Plan scheme, the capacity of DD’s DTH is being expanded from 59 channels to 97 channels in the 12th Plan, it is proposed to be increased to 250 channels. Another proposal under the 12th Plan is related to installation of 23 Digital Terrestrial Transmitter (DTTs). Provisions have also been kept for modernisation of existing equipment or facilities in studios and satellite uplinks which are essential to sustain ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) studio facilities at Chennai and Kolkata, the statement said. For AIR, FM expansion at 118 places besides eight FM broadcasting set ups along the Indo-Nepal border, replacement of old FM transmitters at 77 locations and six MW transmitters by FM Transmitters, digitalisation of 29 studios and creation of archival facility at Guwahati are envisaged. PTI