Lok Sabha Question No. 193 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: FM Services
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: THOKCHOM MEINYA, ALOK SANJAR

## FM SERVICES

## *193 DR THOKCHOM MEINYA SHRI ALOK SANJAR

Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state

- (a) whether a number of district headquarterslsmall townslvillages are to be covered under FM radio service across the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise along with the time by which these areas are likely to be covered under these services; yet
- (b) the criteria laid down for selection of cities for grant of FM radio licence;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to give licence to set up more private FM radio stations in the country and if so, the details thereof; StatelUT-wise;
- (d) whether any State has been left out in the proposal for setting up private FM radio stations and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has proposed any changes in the existing FM Licencing & Transmission Policy' and if SO, the details thereof with impact of the said changes in development of FM sector in the country.? key along

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING [SHRI M:VENKAIAH NAIDU]

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.193 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2016

## STARRED QUESTION NO.193 FOR ANSWER ON 29.07.2016.

The present Policy on expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting services through Private Agencies (Phase-III) approved by Union Cabinet on 07.07.2011 seeks to extend FM radio services to 227 new and uncovered cities, in addition to the present 67 cities, with a total of 839 new FM radio channels in 294 cities: The details of these 227 new cities are at Annexure-I. Under Phase-III Policy, new FM channels are to be awarded through an auction process:

The Policy envisages setting up of Private FM radio channels in all citiesltowns having population above one lakh (based on 2001 census): As an exception to this stipulation, 11 towns in Jammu & Kashmir; North East & Island Territories (having population less than one lakh) have also been proposed for setting up FM radio channels.

Out of 227 new cities identified for introduction of Private FM Radio, applications have already been invited for awarding licence through e-auction in 69 cities under batch-Il of FM Phase-III. The details of these 69 cities are at Annexure-II,

No State has been left out in the proposal for introduction of Private FM Radio in these 227 new cities.

Two changes have been made in the existing FM Phase-III Policy. Existing permission holders have been allowed to migrate their Phase-II licenses to Phase-Ill on payment of migration fee. Besides, the FDIIFII limit under FM Phase-III has been enhanced to 49%   from the 26% . With   migration the   existing channels will continue uninterrupted and their employees will be able to retain their employment: The increase in FDI is expected to provide the companies with additional capital in setting up of FM radio channels in uncovered cities. key

As far as All India Radio is concerned, setting up of FM transmitters at new locations is  being taken up in phased manner depending on availability of resources.

Annexure-l

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA

| IS No   | State            | Name of Cities/Towns   | Channels available for Phase III   |
|---------|------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 1       | ANDHRA PRADESH   | ADONI                  | 3                                  |
| 2.      | ANDHRA PRADESH   | ANANTPUR               | 3                                  |
| 3       | ANDHRA PRADESH   | BHEEMAVARAM            |                                    |
|         | ANDHRA PRADESH   | CHIRALA                |                                    |
|         | ANDHRA PRADESH   | CHITTOOR               |                                    |
|         | ANDHRA PRADESH   | CUDDAPAH               |                                    |
| 7.      | ANDHRA PRADESH   | DHARAMAVARAM           |                                    |
| 8       | ANDHRA PRADESH   | ELURU                  |                                    |
| 9       | ANDHRA PRADESH   | GUNTAKAL               |                                    |
| 10.     | ANDHRA PRADESH   | HINDUPUR               |                                    |
| 14      | ANDHRA PRADESH   | MADANAPALLE            |                                    |
| 15.     | ANDHRA PRADESH   | NANDYAL                |                                    |
| 16_     | ANDHRA PRADESH   | NELLORE                |                                    |
| 17      | ANDHRA PRADESH   | ONGOLE                 |                                    |
| 18      | ANDHRA PRADESH   | PRODDATUR              |                                    |
| 19      | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | PORTBLAIR              |                                    |
| 20      | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | DIBRUGARH              | 3                                  |
| 21      | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | JORHAT                 |                                    |
| 22.     | ASSAM            | NAGAON (NOWGANG)       |                                    |
| 23.     | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | SILCHAR                |                                    |
| 24      | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | TINSUKIA               | 3                                  |
| 25.     | ANDMAN & NICOBAR | ARRAH                  |                                    |
| 26.     | BIHAR            | BEGUSARAI              |                                    |
| 27.     | BIHAR            | BETTIAH                |                                    |
| 28      | BIHAR            | BHAGALPUR              |                                    |
|         | BIHAR            | BIHAHSPAREEF           |                                    |
| 30      | BIHAR            |                        |                                    |
| 31      | BIHAR            | DARBHANGA              |                                    |
| 32.     | BIHAR            | GAYA                   |                                    |
| 33.     | BIHAR            | MOTIHARI               |                                    |
|         | BIHAR            | MUNGER                 |                                    |
| 35.     | BIHAR            | MUZZAFFARPUR           |                                    |
| 36.     | BIHAR            | PURNIA                 |                                    |
| 37      | BIHAR            | SAHARSA                |                                    |
| 39      | BIHAR            |                        |                                    |
| 40.     |                  |                        |                                    |
|         |                  | DURG-BHILLAINAGAR      |                                    |
| 42      |                  | KORBA                  | 3                                  |
| 43.     |                  | RAJGARH                | 3                                  |

| 44    |                     | DAMAN                      | 3   |
|-------|---------------------|----------------------------|-----|
| 45.   | DAMAN & DIU GUJARAT | BHARUCH                    |     |
| 46.   |                     | BHAVNAGAR                  |     |
| 47    |                     | BOTAD                      |     |
| 48    |                     | DOHAD                      |     |
| 49    |                     | GODHRA                     |     |
| 52    |                     | JETPUMNAGAGADH             |     |
| 52    |                     | JUNAGADH                   |     |
| 53    |                     | MAHESANA                   |     |
| 54    |                     | PALANPUR                   |     |
| 55.   |                     | PATAN                      |     |
| 56_   |                     | PORBANDAR                  |     |
| 57_   |                     | SURENDRANAGAR DUDHREJ      |     |
| 58    |                     | VERAVAL                    | 3   |
| 59    |                     | WADHWAN (SURENDERNAGAR)    | 3   |
| 60.   |                     | AMBALA                     | 3   |
| 61    |                     | BHADURGARH                 |     |
| 62    |                     | BHIWANI                    |     |
| 63    |                     | JIND                       |     |
| 64_   |                     | KAITHAI                    |     |
| 65    |                     | PANIPAT                    |     |
| 66    | HARYANA             | REWARI                     |     |
| 67    |                     | ROHTAK                     |     |
| 68    |                     | SIRSA                      |     |
| 69 70 | JHARKHAND           | THANESAR BOKARO STEEL CITY |     |
| 71_   |                     | DEOGHAR                    |     |
| 72    |                     | DHANBAD                    |     |
|       | KARNATAKA           |                            |     |
| 76.   |                     | BELLARY                    |     |
| 77 .  |                     | BIDAR                      |     |
| 78.   |                     | BIJAPUR                    |     |
| 79    |                     | CHIKMAGALUR                |     |
| 80    |                     | CHITRADURGA                |     |
| 81    |                     | DEVENGERI                  |     |
| 82_   |                     | GADAG BETIGERI             |     |
|       |                     | HASSAN                     |     |
|       |                     | HOSPET                     |     |
| 85.   |                     | HUBLI-DHARWAD              |     |
| 86.   |                     | KOLAR                      |     |
| 87_   |                     | RAICHUR                    |     |
| 88.   |                     | SHIMOGA                    |     |
| 89    |                     | TUMKUR                     |     |
| 90_   |                     | UDUPI                      |     |
| 92    |                     | KANAPPNGAD (KASARGOD)      |     |
| 93.   | KERALA              | PALAKKAD                   |     |
| 94    | LAKSHADWEEP         |                            |     |
| 95.   |                     | KAVARATI BURHANAPUR        |     |
| 96.   |                     | CHHATTARPUR                | 3 3 |

| 97   | MADHYA PRADESH   | CHHINDWARA      | 3   |
|------|------------------|-----------------|-----|
| 98   | MADHYA PRADESH   | DAMOH           | 3   |
| 99_  | MADHYA PRADESH   | GUNA            |     |
| 100. | MADHYA PRADESH   | ITARSI          |     |
| 101. | MADHYA PRADESH   | KHANDWA         |     |
| 102_ | MADHYA PRADESH   | KHARGONE        |     |
| 103_ | MADHYA PRADESH   | MANDSAUR        |     |
| 104_ | MADHYA PRADESH   | MURWARA (KATNI) |     |
| 105  | MADHYA PRADESH   | NEEMUCH         |     |
| 106  | MADHYA PRADESH   | RATLAM          |     |
| 107_ | MADHYA PRADESH   | REWA            |     |
| 108  | MADHYA PRADESH   | SAGAR           |     |
| 109_ | MADHYA PRADESH   | SATNA           |     |
| 110. | MADHYA PRADESH   | SHIVPURI        |     |
| 111. | MADHYA PRADESH   | SINGRAULI       |     |
| 112. | MADHYA PRADESH   | UJJAIN          |     |
|      | MAHARASHTRA      |                 |     |
| 116. | MAHARASHTRA      | BARSHI          |     |
| 117. | MAHARASHTRA      | GONDIYA         |     |
| 118. | MAHARASHTRA      | LATUR           |     |
| 119. | MAHARASHTRA      | MALEGAON        |     |
| 120. | MAHARASHTRA      | WARDHA          |     |
| 121. | MAHARASHTRA      | YAVATMAL        |     |
| 122. | MANIPUR          | IMPHAL          |     |
| 123. | NAGALAND         | DIMAPUR         |     |
| 124. | NAGALAND         | KOHIMA          |     |
| 125. | ODISHA           | BALESHWAR       |     |
| 126. | ODISHA           | BARIPADA        |     |
| 127. | ODISHA           | BRAHMAPUR       |     |
| 128. | ODISHA           | PURI            |     |
| 129. | ODISHA           | SAMBALPUR       |     |
| 130. | PUNJAB           | ABOHAR          |     |
| 132  |                  |                 |     |
| 133. |                  | LUDHIANA        |     |
| 134. |                  | MOGA            |     |
| 135_ |                  | PATHANKOT       | 3   |
| 136. |                  | ALWAR           | 3   |
| 137. |                  | BEAWAR          |     |
| 138. |                  | BHARATPUR       | 3   |
| 139. |                  | BHILWARA        | 3   |
| 140- | RAJASTHAN        | CHURU           |     |
| 141. |                  | GANGANAGAR      |     |
| 142. |                  | HANUMANGARH     |     |
| 143. |                  | JHUNJHUNUN      |     |
| 144, |                  | PALI            |     |
| 145_ |                  | SAWAI MADHOPUR  |     |
| 146. |                  | SIKAR           |     |
| 147. |                  | TONK            |     |
| 148. |                  | COONOOR         | 3   |
| 149. |                  | DINGDIGUL       | 3   |
| 150. |                  | ERODE           | 4   |

| 151_     |                         | KARAIKKUDI                  | 3   |
|----------|-------------------------|-----------------------------|-----|
| 152.     |                         | KARUR                       | 3   |
| 153.     |                         | NAGARCOIL/KANYAKUMARI       |     |
| 154      |                         | NEYVELI                     |     |
| 155.     |                         | PUDUKKOTTAI                 |     |
| 156.     |                         | RAJAPALAYAM                 |     |
| 157.     |                         | SALEM                       |     |
| 158.     |                         | THANJAVAR                   |     |
| 161.     |                         | VELLORE                     |     |
| 162_     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | ADILABAD                    |     |
| 163_     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | ALWAL                       |     |
| 164_     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | KARIMNAGAR                  |     |
| 165.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | KHAMMAM                     |     |
| 166.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | KOTHAGUDEM                  |     |
| 167.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | MAHBUBNAGAR                 |     |
| 168.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | MANCHERIAL                  |     |
| 169.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | NALGONDA                    |     |
| 170.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | NIZAMABAD                   |     |
| 171.     | TELANGANA UTTAR PRADESH | RAMAGUNDAM                  |     |
| 172-     |                         | AZAMGARH                    |     |
| 173_     |                         | BAHRAICH                    |     |
| 174.     |                         | BALLIA                      |     |
| 175.     |                         | BANDS                       |     |
| 176.     |                         | BASTI                       |     |
| 173      |                         |                             |     |
| 179.     |                         | ETAH                        |     |
| 180.     |                         | ETAWAH                      |     |
| 181      |                         | FAIZABADIAYODHYA            | 3   |
| 182,     |                         | FARRUKHABAD CUM             | 3   |
| 183.     |                         | FATEHGARH FATEHPUR          |     |
| 184.     |                         | GHAZIPUR                    |     |
| 185.     |                         | GONDA                       |     |
| 186      |                         |                             |     |
|          |                         | JAANPOR                     |     |
| 188_     |                         | LAKHIMPUR                   |     |
| 189.     |                         | LALITPUR                    |     |
| 190.     |                         | MAINPURI                    |     |
| 191.     |                         | MATHURA                     |     |
| 192.     |                         | MAUNATH BHAJAN (DISTT. MAU) |     |
| 193_     |                         | MIRZAPUR CUM VINDHYACHAL    | 3   |
| 194.     |                         | MORADABAD                   |     |
| 195.     |                         | MUZAFFARNAGAR               |     |
| 196.     |                         | ORAI                        |     |
| 197.     |                         | RAE BARELLI                 |     |
| 199      |                         |                             |     |
| 200.     |                         | SITAPUR SULTANPUR           |     |
| 201 202. |                         | DEHRADUN                    |     |

| 203.                                              | UTTARAKHAND                                       | HALDWANI-CUM KATHGODAM                            | 3                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 204.                                              |                                                   | HARIDWAR                                          |                                                   |
| 205.                                              |                                                   | ALIPURDUAR                                        |                                                   |
| 206.                                              |                                                   | BAHARAMPUR                                        |                                                   |
| 207.                                              |                                                   | BALURGHAT                                         |                                                   |
| 208.                                              |                                                   | BANGAON                                           |                                                   |
| 209.                                              | WEST BENGAL                                       | BANKURA                                           |                                                   |
|                                                   |                                                   | BARARHANGAN                                       |                                                   |
| 210                                               |                                                   |                                                   |                                                   |
| 212.                                              |                                                   | ENGLISH BAZAR (MALDAH)                            |                                                   |
| 213.                                              |                                                   | KHARAGPUR                                         |                                                   |
| 214.                                              |                                                   |                                                   |                                                   |
| 215.                                              |                                                   | PURULIYA                                          |                                                   |
| 216.                                              |                                                   | RAOGANJ                                           | 3                                                 |
| CITIES/TOWNS IN BORDER AREAS OF J&K AND NE STATES | CITIES/TOWNS IN BORDER AREAS OF J&K AND NE STATES | CITIES/TOWNS IN BORDER AREAS OF J&K AND NE STATES | CITIES/TOWNS IN BORDER AREAS OF J&K AND NE STATES |
| 217.                                              | Jek                                               | KARGIL                                            | 3                                                 |
| 218.                                              | J&k                                               | LEH                                               | 3                                                 |
| 219.                                              |                                                   | KATUA                                             | 3                                                 |
| 220.                                              |                                                   | POONCH                                            | 3                                                 |
| 221.                                              | J&k                                               | BHADERWAH                                         |                                                   |
| 222                                               | ASSAM                                             | DUBHARI                                           |                                                   |
| 223.                                              | ASSAM                                             | HAFLONG                                           |                                                   |
| 224.                                              | MEGHALAYA                                         | JOWAI                                             |                                                   |
| 225.                                              | MIZORAM                                           | LUNG-LEI                                          |                                                   |
| 226.                                              | NAGALAND                                          | MOKUKCHUNG                                        | 3                                                 |
| 227.                                              | TRIPURA                                           | BELONIA                                           | 3                                                 |

## ANNEXURE-II

| ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name of City                                                      | State                                                             | Region                                                            | Channels available                                                |
|                                                                   | b                                                                 |                                                                   | d                                                                 |
| Alappuzha (Alleppey)_                                             | Kerala                                                            | S                                                                 |                                                                   |
| Amravati                                                          | Maharashtra                                                       | W                                                                 |                                                                   |
| Belgaum                                                           | Karnataka                                                         |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Bellary                                                           | Karnataka                                                         |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Bhavnagar                                                         | Gujarat                                                           |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Dehradun                                                          | Uttarakhand                                                       |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Devengeri                                                         | Karnataka                                                         |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Erode                                                             | Tamil Nadu                                                        |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Hubli-Dharwad                                                     | Karnataka                                                         |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Jamnagar                                                          | Gujarat                                                           |                                                                   |                                                                   |
|                                                                   | Z                                                                 |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Muzaffarnagar                                                     | Uttar Pradesh                                                     |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Nellore                                                           | Andhra Pradesh                                                    |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Saharanpur                                                        | Uttar Pradesh                                                     |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Salem                                                             | Tamil Nadu                                                        |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Shahjahanpur                                                      | Uttar Pradesh                                                     |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Ujjain                                                            | Madhya Pradesh                                                    |                                                                   |                                                                   |
| Vellore                                                           | Tamil nadu                                                        |                                                                   |                                                                   |
|                                                                   |                                                                   |                                                                   | 80                                                                |
| Category S                                                        | Category S                                                        | Category S                                                        | Category S                                                        |
| Achalpur                                                          | Maharashtra                                                       | W                                                                 | 3                                                                 |
| Barshi                                                            | Maharashtra                                                       | W                                                                 | 3                                                                 |
| Bharuch                                                           | Gujarat                                                           |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Botad                                                             | Gujarat                                                           |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Burhanapur                                                        | Madhya Pradesh                                                    |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Chhattarpur                                                       | Madhya Pradesh                                                    |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
|                                                                   | Madhyg Pradesh                                                    |                                                                   |                                                                   |
|                                                                   |                                                                   |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Dohad                                                             | Gujarat                                                           |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Durg-Bhillainagar                                                 | Chhatisgarh                                                       |                                                                   | 3                                                                 |
| Godhra                                                            | Gujarat                                                           | W                                                                 | 3                                                                 |

| Gondiya                                                    | Maharashtra                                                | W                                                          | 3                                             |
|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Guna                                                       | Madhya Pradesh                                             | W                                                          | 3                                             |
| Itarsi                                                     | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Jagdalpur                                                  | Chhatisgarh                                                |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Jetpur Navagadh                                            | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Junagadh                                                   | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Khandwa                                                    | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Khargone                                                   | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Korba                                                      | Chhatisgarh                                                |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Mahesana                                                   | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Mandsaur                                                   | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Murwara (Katni)                                            | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Neemuch                                                    | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Palanpur                                                   | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| 5                                                          |                                                            |                                                            |                                               |
|                                                            | 2                                                          |                                                            |                                               |
| Ratlam                                                     | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Rewa                                                       | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Satna                                                      | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Shivpuri                                                   | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Singrauli                                                  | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Surendranagar Dudhrej                                      | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Veraval                                                    | Gujarat                                                    |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Vidisha                                                    | Madhya Pradesh                                             |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Wardha                                                     | Maharashtra                                                |                                                            | 3                                             |
| Yavatmal                                                   | Maharashtra                                                | W                                                          | 3                                             |
|                                                            | Sub total                                                  |                                                            | 114                                           |
| Cities in Border Areas of J & K and NE states              | Cities in Border Areas of J & K and NE states              | Cities in Border Areas of J & K and NE states              | Cities in Border Areas of J & K and NE states |
| Kargil                                                     | J & K                                                      | N                                                          | 3                                             |
| Leh                                                        | J & K                                                      | N                                                          | 3                                             |
| Katua                                                      | J & K                                                      |                                                            |                                               |
| Poonch                                                     | J & K                                                      |                                                            |                                               |
| Bhaderwah                                                  | J & K                                                      |                                                            |                                               |
| Dubhari                                                    | Assam                                                      |                                                            |                                               |
| Joong                                                      |                                                            |                                                            |                                               |
| Lung-lei                                                   | Mizoram                                                    |                                                            |                                               |
| Mokukchung                                                 | Nagaland                                                   |                                                            |                                               |
| Belonia                                                    | Tripura                                                    | E                                                          | 3                                             |
|                                                            | Sub total                                                  |                                                            | 33                                            |
| TOTAL 69 NEW CITIES{Batch-Il} including Border Area cities | TOTAL 69 NEW CITIES{Batch-Il} including Border Area cities | TOTAL 69 NEW CITIES{Batch-Il} including Border Area cities | 227                                           |