Lok Sabha Question No. 4275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Outlay under BIND Scheme
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4275 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026)

## OUTLAY UNDER BIND SCHEME

## 4275.   SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

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

- a. the  details  of  total  outlay  approved  under  the  Broadcasting  Infrastructure  and  Network Development  (BIND) Scheme  along  with  the  funds  allocated  and  utilised  since  its  inception, year-wise;
- b. the  projects  sanctioned  under  the  BIND  Scheme  in  the  State  of  Kerala  along  with  details  of works undertaken;
- c. the details of funds allocated and utilised in Kerala under the said Scheme, year-wise; and
- d. whether the Government proposes any additional projects under the BIND Scheme in Kerala and if so, the details thereof?

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## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

## (a) to (d):

Broadcasting  Infrastructure  and  Network  Development  (BIND)  scheme  is  a  Central  Sector  Scheme for development,  modernization  and  upgradation  of  broadcasting  infrastructure  of  Doordarshan  and Akashvani in the country. BIND scheme has been approved with a total outlay of ₹ 2540 crore for 202126.  A  total  amount  of ₹1,355  crore has  been  released  to  Prasar  Bharati  under  the  scheme  so  far, including ₹164 crore (2021-22), ₹188 crore (2022-23), ₹371 crore (2023-24), ₹262 crore (2024-25), and ₹370 crore in 2025-26 (up to February 2026).

For  the  State  of  Kerala,  several  projects  have  been  sanctioned  under  the  current BIND  Scheme. For Akashvani, these include installation of 100 W FM transmitters at Pathanamthitta and Kayamkulam, a Visual Radio System at Thiruvananthapuram, refurbishment of the studio and replacement of the AC plant at Kozhikode, and replacement of the Diesel Generator at Thrissur, at a total cost of ₹1.42 crore. In addition, replacement  of  the  10  kW  FM  transmitter  at  Kozhikode, upgradation  of  the  3  kW  FM transmitter to 10 kW at Manjeri, and replacement of analog consoles with digital consoles at Devikulam and Manjeri have been approved at a cost of ₹3.1 crore.

For Doordarshan, projects have been sanctioned for modernization and upgradation of  DDK Thiruvananthapuram,  including  modernization  of  the  Earth  Station,  provision  of  audio  and  video equipment, a multi-camera mobile production facility, upgradation of programme production facilities to HD, augmentation of news production equipment, installation of active LED video walls, and an HD watermarking system for DD Malayalam, at a total cost of ₹9.37 crore.

Further, Doordarshan's Free-To-Air Direct-to-Home (DTH) service, 'DD Free Dish,' is available across the country, including the State of Kerala. Prasar Bharati has also launched its OTT platform WAVES in 2024, a digital streaming aggregator providing infotainment content. These and other pan-India digital broadcasting  initiatives  are  being  continuously  expanded  under  the  BIND  Scheme,  and  are  extended across the country, including the State of Kerala.

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