Cabinet okays Rs 3,500 crore upgrade of Prasar Bharati network

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved Rs 3,500 crore for infrastructure upgrade of Prasar Bharati network. The proposals include strengthening of AIR and Doordarshan network along the Indo-Nepal border to counter Chinese propaganda.

Transmitters established under the proposals will also target 65% of Nepal's population.

The other schemes approved by the Cabinet include proposals like expanding Doordarshan's DTH platform and establishing infrastructure for AIR.

The CCEA gave 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 terrestrial transmitters are proposed along the Indo-Nepal border and these are targeted to cover 65% 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 modernization 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 in 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, digitalization of 29 studios and creation of archival facility at Guwahati are envisaged.

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Cabinet okays Rs 3,500 crore upgrade of Prasar Bharati network