Parliament Question: Conversion of Narkatiaganj Akashvani Kendra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 643 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2026) CONVERSION OF NARKATIAGANJ AKASHVANI KENDRA

643. SHRI SUNIL KUMAR:

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

(a) whether the Government has received any proposal to convert the Narkatiaganj Akashvani Kendra in West Champaran district of Bihar which is very small and has very low broadcasting capacity at present into a modern long range Akashvani Kendra; and

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be approved? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (DR. L. MURUGAN)

(a) and (b): 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 ₹2539.61 crore for 2021-26. The scheme has been extended upto 31.03.2027.The scheme includes setting up and modernization of transmitters and studios of Akashvani, expansion of DD Free Dish DTH platform and DD TV channels. It also includes upgrading production & transmission facilities.

A 10 KW FM relay station at Narkatiaganj was commissioned in 2021. A 100 meter tower has been erected under the BIND scheme to cover upto 50 km radial distance on full power.

Further, residents of the district can access Doordarshan and Akashvani services through alternative platforms. DD Free Dish, Prasar Bharati's free-to-air DTH service, carries all Doordarshan channels and 48 Akashvani channels without any subscription fee. More than 260 Akashvani channels are available on the NewsOnAIR mobile app. Doordarshan and Akashvani channels are also available on WAVES OTT platform.

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