Lok Sabha Question No. 4439 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-20
Subject: Upgradation and Modernisation of AIR/DD Kendras
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff, Janardan Mishra, Rodmal Nagar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4439

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2020)

## UPGRDATION AND MODERNISATION OF AIR/DD KENDRAS

4439.

ADV. A.M. ARIFF: SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA: SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  INFORMATION  AND  BROADCASTING  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the infrastructural upgradation and modernisation of Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendras is being made to keep pace with the increasing needs of digitisation;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  Doordarshan  Kendra  and  AIR Station-wise;
- (c)  the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  for  this  purpose  during  the last  three  years  and  the  current  year,  Doordarshan  Kendra  and AIR Station-wise; and
- (d)  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to improve the functional quality of programmes being broadcast on Akashvani/ Doordarshan?

## ANSWER

## 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) & (b): Modernization/ Upgradation of Doordarshan and Akashwani  is  a  continuous  process.  This,  inter-alia,  includes Modernization,  Augmentation  and  Replacement  of  transmitters and Broadcast Equipment, Digitization of studios, FM Expansion/Replacement, Coverage in sensitive areas, Broadcasting on alternate Platform, Content Development, expansion of DTH and High Definition TV channels, etc.

Upgradation  and  modernisation  projects  were  undertaken by Doordarshan (DD) during the year 2019-20 at different places such  as  Chhattisgarh,  Delhi,  Maharashtra,  Ladakh,  Jharkhand, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil  Nadu.  Similarly,  in  respect  of  All  India  Radio  (AIR),  the work of upgradation and modernisation has been undertaken at various AIR stations/locations across the country.

(c): The budget allocated and utilized on Projects in AIR and DD is as under:

(Figure in Rs. crore)

| Year     | All India Radio   | All India Radio   | Doordarshan   | Doordarshan   |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------|---------------|---------------|
|          | Allocation        | Expenditure       | Allocation    | Expenditure   |
| 2016-17  | 177.00            | 164.52            | 221.00        | 208.14        |
| 2017-18  | 115.00            | 115.00            | 118.34        | 52.02         |
| 2018-19  | 119.98            | 108.01            | 112.17        | 80.08         |
| 2019-20* | 104.24            | 72.81             | 96.00         | 46.13         |

(d): As  a  Public  Service  Broadcaster,  Prasar  Bharati  (AIR  and Doordarshan) primarily focuses on issues of public interest such as health, education, empowerment, social justice, etc. It is the constant  endeavour  of  Prasar  Bharati  to  provide  impactful  and entertaining programmes on AIR & DD to become the preferred channel of choice of people.  AIR content has been made more interactive;  long  formats  have  been  replaced  by  short  duration musical items, live phone in programmes, chat shows, etc.

With  the  launch  of  DD  Arun  Prabha  and  placing  of  11  state specific channels of DD on DTH platform, footprint of DD Network has been expanded. Video walls for studio have been introduced for  quality  content  generation  from  studios.  In  addition,  more than 70 'YouTube' channels have been created by Prasar Bharati to  disseminate the audio/video content. Further, more than 200 AIR  channels  have  made  available  on  'NewsOnAir'  app  on Android and iOS mobile platform. ******