NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has denied that any of its All India Radio or Doordarshan channels are non-functional.

Parliament was informed by Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore that Doordarshan has 67 kendra and All India Radio has 416 Stations including low capacity 100 Watt FM Relay Transmitters. 

As part of the continuing scheme of 11th Plan and 12th Plan, 86 new AIR Stations have been approved to be set up in various parts of the country particularly remote/backward/rural areas. These include low capacity 100 Watt FM Relay Transmitters.

In addition, 64 AIR transmitters have been approved for up gradation under 12th Plan including continuing schemes of the 11th Plan.

While there is no approved scheme to setup new Doordarshan Kendra in any part of country including remote/ backward/ rural areas of the country, the Minister said that the project of upgradation of existing low power transmitter at Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir to 5KW high power transmitter has been approved as part of continuing scheme of 11th Plan. 

There are 228 high power and 810 low power TV transmitters in the country including those located in backward / tribal and remote areas of the country.
He said there was no proposal to set up new transmitters except in border areas in view of multichannel TV coverage provided through Doordarshan’s free to air Freedish.