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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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