**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1727, concerning AIR (Akashvani) stations in Dakshina Kannada and their role in coastal and marine broadcasts. It details the operational stations, their capabilities, and ongoing government initiatives to enhance radio connectivity and safety for fishermen. The question was due to be answered on December 10, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Operational Stations:**
* Akashvani stations at Mangalore (Udupi), Karwar, and Madikeri provide coastal and marine broadcasts for the Dakshina Kannada region.
* Mangalore station operates a 10 kW FM transmitter (100.3 MHz) and a 20 kW MW transmitter (1089 kHz) with coverage radii of 20-40 km on land and 50-80 km offshore.
* Karwar and Madikeri stations each have FM transmitters operating at 102.3 MHz and 103.1 MHz, respectively.
* Broadcasts are in Kannada, Konkani, English, Hindi, and Sanskrit, regularly including weather and fishermen warnings.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme:
* Replacement of the 10 kW FM transmitter at Mangalore.
* Installation of a 1 kW FM transmitter at Udupi.
* To support fishermen, the Government has undertaken the following initiatives:
* Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based Integrated Alert System (SACHET) delivers multilingual emergency warnings, including cyclone alerts, via multiple media.
* Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) disseminates advisories through various channels including FM/Community Radio, NAVIC, mobile apps, SMS, CAP-SACHET, NGOs, websites, and social media.
* Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed and deployed the Distress Alert Transmitter - Second Generation (DAT-SG), enabling fishermen to transmit distress signals and receive two-way weather/cyclone alerts; these alerts are relayed to rescue agencies such as the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
* Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), communication and tracking technologies such as NAVIC/DAT units, transponders, and satellite-based receivers are being provided to fishing vessels.
**Impact Analysis**
**Fishermen operating from Mangalore, Ullal, Someshwara and other landing centres**
* **Impact:** Enhanced safety through improved marine communication and weather/emergency alerts dissemination via radio and other technologies.
* **Action Required:** Familiarize themselves with the available communication technologies (NAVIC/DAT units, transponders, satellite receivers) and emergency alert systems (SACHET) to utilize them effectively.
**Akashvani Stations (Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Madikeri)**
* **Impact:** These stations will be upgraded and expanded and will continue broadcasting important coastal and marine information.
* **Action Required:** Implement the transmitter replacement and installation projects under the BIND scheme. Continue broadcasting weather advisories and fishermen warnings regularly.
**Indian Coast Guard (ICG)**
* **Impact:** This agency is now a recipient of rescue alerts transmitted by fishermen.
* **Action Required:** Prepare to respond to distress signals relayed through the DAT-SG system.
**Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)**
* **Impact:** Enhanced dissemination of advisories.
* **Action Required:** Continue disseminating advisories through FM/Community Radio, NAVIC, mobile apps, SMS, CAP-SACHET, NGOs, websites and social media.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting: The central ministry responsible for policies related to radio broadcasting.
Dakshina Kannada: A district in Karnataka, India, where AIR stations are located and whose coastal communities benefit from radio broadcasts.
Akashvani: All India Radio (AIR), providing coastal and marine broadcasts in Dakshina Kannada.
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme: A scheme under which the government approved improvements to broadcast infrastructure in Dakshina Kannada.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme providing communication and tracking technologies to fishing vessels.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1727
(TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025)
AIR STATIONS IN DAKSHINA KANNADA
1727. SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to
state:
a) the details of AIR (Akashvani) stations operational in Dakshina
Kannada especially those providing coastal and marine
broadcasts including their locations, MW/FW frequency bands,
land and offshore coverage radius and the regional languages
used for fishing-related weather bulletins;
b) whether the Government has undertaken any digital upgradation
of radio infrastructure in the district to improve marine
communication and fisherman’s safety, such as replacing ageing
transmitters, strengthening FM towers for extended coastal
reach, Installing Digital Radio (DRM) systems or automating
studios for real-time alerts and if so, the details thereof;c) whether the Government is considering measures to enhance
radio connectivity and marine communication along the coast of
Dakshina Kannada particularly for fisherman operating from
Mangalore, Ullal, Someshwara and other landing centres
including the provision of VHF/HF systems, NAVIC message
receivers or emergency broadcast support for cyclones and sea-
safety alerts; and
d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(DR. L. MURUGAN)
(a) to (d): The Akashvani stations at Mangalore (Udupi), Karwar and
Madikeri provide coastal and marine broadcasts for the Dakshina
Kannada region.
Mangalore station operates two transmitters, a 10 kW FM transmitter
at 100.3 MHz and a 20 kW MW transmitter at 1089 kHz. These provide
a coverage radius of 20 to 40 km on land and 50 to 80 km offshore.Karwar and Madikeri stations each have FM transmitters operating at
102.3 MHz and 103.1 MHz, respectively.
These stations broadcast programmes in Kannada, Konkani, English,
Hindi and Sanskrit. The weather advisories and fishermen warnings
issued by the concerned departments are regularly included in the
news bulletins.
Under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development
(BIND) Scheme, the Government has approved for Dakshina Kannada:
Replacement of the 10 kW FM transmitter at Mangalore, and
Installation of a 1 kW FM transmitter at Udupi, aimed at
improving coastal reception and broadcast reliability
To support fishermen operating from Mangalore, Ullal, Someshwara
and other landing centres, the Government has undertaken the
following initiatives:
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based Integrated Alert System
(SACHET) delivers multilingual emergency warnings, including
cyclone alerts, via multiple media including radio Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
disseminates advisories through FM/Community Radio, NAVIC,
mobile apps, SMS, CAP-SACHET, NGOs, websites and social
media
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed and
deployed the Distress Alert Transmitter - Second Generation
(DAT-SG)
o Fishermen can transmit distress signals from sea and
receive two-way weather/cyclone alerts
o Alerts are relayed to rescue agencies such as the Indian
Coast Guard (ICG).
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),
communication and tracking technologies such as NAVIC/DAT units,
transponders and satellite-based receivers are being provided to
fishing vessels to enhance safety and timely dissemination of weather
and boundary alerts.
*****