Lok Sabha Question No. 881 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Budgetary Support and Expansion of Broadcasting Infrastructure in Odisha
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No.881

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026)

## BUDGETARY SUPPORT AND EXPANSION OF BROADCASTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN ODISHA

## 881. SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

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

- a) the  details  of  budget  allocations  for  the  year  2026-27  for  Prasar  Bharati/Doordarshan Kendras and Community Radio Stations including Radio Muskan in the State of Odisha;
- b) the details of new FM transmitters, digital upgradation initiatives and content production in tribal languages such as Kui undertaken under schemes including the Supporting Community Radio Movement;
- c) the  number  of  Community  Radio  Stations  supported  in  Odisha  including  Kandhamal district, during the year 2025-26 along with the details of equipment grants and capacitybuilding or training provided; and
- d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to address gaps in digital and radio broadcasting coverage in remote areas of the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency for rural empowerment, public awareness of Government schemes and inclusive communication?

(a) to (d):

The  allocation  for  Broadcasting  Infrastructure  and  Network  Development  (BIND)  scheme  for development, modernization and upgradation of  broadcasting infrastructure  of  Prasar  Bharati  for FY 2026-27 is ₹509.24 cr. Further, the allocation under scheme for Supporting Community Radio Movement (CRS) in India for the year 2026-27 is ₹8 cr.

The Government has sanctioned the establishment of 68 new Akashvani FM transmitters across the country  under  the  BIND  Scheme  for  2021-26.  The  digital  upgradation  of  Akashvani    in  Odisha includes  new  FM  transmitters  at  Bonaigarh  (1  kW)  and  Baleshwar  (5  kW),  upgradation  of  FM transmitters at Baripada, Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur from 5 kW to 10 kW, and upgradation at Rairangpur from 1 kW to 5 kW.

Akashvani  broadcasts  programmes  in  23  languages,  including  Odia  and  Santhali,  and  in  182 dialects, including tribal dialects such as Kui. The primary channel of Akashvani, Bhawanipatna, located in Kalahandi district of Odisha, broadcasts tribal songs and programmes, including in the Kui dialect.

## ANSWER

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

(DR. L. MURUGAN)

Under the scheme 'Supporting Community Radio Movement in India', 4 CRS in Odisha have been supported  during  FY  2025-26,  namely,  Radio  SWATI,  Radio  Adar,  Radio  Utkal  and  Radio Dhenkanal. Grants of ₹ 36,67,246 have been provided to them for the procurement of equipment such as FM transmitters, audio recorders, audio processors and studio infrastructure.

All India Radio (AIR) operates 591 broadcasting stations across the country, including 2 FM Relay Stations located at Baliguda and Phulbani in the Kandhamal Lok Sabha Constituency.

Some of the new-age initiatives undertaken to enable users to access regional and national content anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices include -

-  Prasar Bharati's OTT platform 'WAVES" launched in 2024
- o Multi-genre  digital  streaming  aggregator  platform  providing  infotainment  content  in multiple Indian Languages
- o Various channels of Doordarshan and AIR network are integrated into this platform
-  DD Free Dish (Free-to-Air Direct-To-Home)
- o Grown significantly from 104 channels in 2019 to 510 channels at present
- o Includes private and educational TV channels, besides the Doordarshan channels.
- o 48 Akashvani radio channels
-  NewsOnAir App
- o Streaming of more than 260 live radio channels of Akashvani.

*****