Lok Sabha Question No. 2782 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Expansion of Doordarshan and All India Radio
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2782

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025)

## EXPANSION OF DOORDARSHAN AND ALL INDIA RADIO 2782.  SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:

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

- a) the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  during  the  last three  years  to  expand  Doordarshan  and  All  India  Radio  (AIR)
2. services across the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu;
- b) whether  the  Government  has  identified  coverage  gaps  in  radio and  television  broadcasting  in  rural,  hilly,  coastal  and  border areas  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  to  bridge  these gaps;
- c) the  status  of  installation  of  new  transmitters,  towers,  digital studios and FM channels under Prasar Bharati in Tamil Nadu;
- d) whether the Government proposes to expand regional language broadcasting including more Tamil content on DD and AIR; and
- e) the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  inclusive access  to public broadcasting for educational, agricultural, cultural and emergency communication needs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a)  to  (e):  The  Government  has  undertaken  various  measures  for  the expansion and modernization of Akashvani and Doordarshan Kendras (DDK) across all states.

The  Kendras  are  being  upgraded  under  the  Central  Sector  Scheme Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND), approved with an outlay of ₹2,539.61 crore for 2021-26.

The  Scheme  focuses  on  digitalisation/modernisation  of  studios  and transmitters, replacement of obsolete equipment, expansion of coverage and adoption of new broadcasting technologies.

Under  BIND,  transmitter  upgrades,  FM  expansion  and  digitalisation projects  are  being  undertaken  to  bridge  coverage  gaps  in  rural, coastal, hilly and border areas and to improve signal reach, reliability and quality.

During  the  last  three  years,  some  of  the  major  projects  taken  up  in Tamil Nadu under BIND Scheme are:

-  Commissioning of 20kW FM transmitter at Rameshwaram.
-  Installation of 5 kW FM transmitter at Salem, Vellore and 10kW FM transmitter at Kumbakonam has been approved.
-  Installation of Virtual Radio System at Chennai has been approved.
-  Installation of Uplink Antenna System and UPS at Earth Station Chennai.
-  Automation and modernization of Programme Production Facilities to High Definition (HD), Augmentation of New Production  equipment,  installation  of  active  LED  video  walls  in DDK Chennai

Government of India launched the revamped DD Tamil channel on 19 th January 2024. It is a 24x7  dedicated television channel being broadcast through satellite and terrestrial networks.

DD  Tamil  broadcasts  programmes  in  Tamil  language  covering  art, culture, literature, history, heritage, traditions, eminent personalities, and  people-centric  content.  It  also  broadcasts  news  and  current affairs related to the state of Tamil Nadu.

It  is  available  in  HD  through  DD  Tamil  HD,  and  both  channels  are carried on DD Free Dish, Prasar Bharati's free-to-air DTH platform.

Prasar Bharati also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics  (BISAG)  for  more  than  300 co-branded  educational channels to be made available via DD Free Dish DTH platform.

To  further  strengthen  regional  outreach,  the  DD  Free  Dish  auction policy  has  been  revamped,  encouraging  greater  participation  from regional channels. As a result, 28 regional language channels, including Tamil, have been onboarded on DD Free Dish from 1 st  April, 2025. Government  of  India  has  also  established  17  Akashvani  channels  in Tamil  Nadu.  Live  streaming  of  Akashvani  channels  in  Tamil  Nadu  is also available through the 'NewsOnAIR' mobile app. Akashvani  stations  across  Tamil  Nadu  promote  Tamil  programming through  their  respective  social  media  handles.  DD  Tamil  promos  are also broadcast as cross channel publicity on the FM network across the state.

Prasar  Bharati's  OTT  platform  'WAVES'  also  hosts  Tamil  language content,  including  news,  current  affairs,  cultural  and  entertainment programmes.

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