Lok Sabha Question No. 1727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: AIR Stations in Dakshina Kannada
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1727

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025)

AIR STATIONS IN DAKSHINA KANNADA

1727.  SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

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

- a) the  details  of  AIR  (Akashvani)  stations  operational  in  Dakshina Kannada especially those providing coastal and marine broadcasts  including  their  locations,  MW/FW  frequency  bands, land  and  offshore  coverage  radius  and  the  regional  languages used for fishing-related weather bulletins;
- b) whether the Government has undertaken any digital upgradation of radio infrastructure in the district to improve marine communication and fisherman's safety, such as replacing ageing transmitters,  strengthening  FM  towers  for  extended  coastal reach,  Installing  Digital  Radio  (DRM)  systems  or  automating studios for real-time alerts and if so, the details thereof;
- c) whether  the  Government  is  considering  measures  to  enhance radio connectivity and marine communication along the coast of Dakshina  Kannada  particularly  for  fisherman  operating  from Mangalore, Ullal, Someshwara and other landing centres including  the  provision  of  VHF/HF  systems,  NAVIC  message receivers or emergency broadcast support for cyclones and seasafety alerts; and
- d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Akashvani  stations  at  Mangalore  (Udupi),  Karwar  and Madikeri  provide  coastal  and  marine  broadcasts  for  the  Dakshina Kannada region.

Mangalore station operates two transmitters, a 10 kW FM transmitter at 100.3 MHz and a 20 kW MW transmitter at 1089 kHz. These provide a coverage radius of 20 to 40 km on land and 50 to 80 km offshore.

Karwar and Madikeri stations each have FM transmitters operating at 102.3 MHz and 103.1 MHz, respectively.

These stations broadcast programmes in Kannada, Konkani, English, Hindi  and  Sanskrit.  The  weather  advisories  and  fishermen  warnings issued  by  the  concerned  departments  are  regularly  included  in  the news bulletins.

Under  the  Broadcasting  Infrastructure  and  Network  Development (BIND) Scheme, the Government has approved for Dakshina Kannada:

-  Replacement of the 10 kW FM transmitter at Mangalore, and
-  Installation of a 1  kW  FM  transmitter  at  Udupi,  aimed  at improving coastal reception and broadcast reliability

To  support  fishermen  operating  from  Mangalore,  Ullal,  Someshwara and  other  landing  centres,  the  Government  has  undertaken  the following initiatives:

-  Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based Integrated Alert System (SACHET)  delivers  multilingual  emergency  warnings,  including cyclone alerts, via multiple media including radio
-  Indian  National Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS) disseminates  advisories  through  FM/Community  Radio,  NAVIC, mobile  apps,  SMS,  CAP-SACHET,  NGOs,  websites  and  social media
-  Indian  Space  Research  Organisation  (ISRO)  has  developed  and deployed  the  Distress  Alert  Transmitter  -  Second  Generation (DAT-SG)
- o Fishermen  can  transmit  distress  signals  from  sea  and receive two-way weather/cyclone alerts
- o Alerts are relayed to rescue agencies such as the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), communication  and  tracking  technologies  such  as  NAVIC/DAT  units, transponders  and  satellite-based  receivers  are  being  provided  to fishing vessels to enhance safety and timely dissemination of weather and boundary alerts.

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