NEW DELHI: With All India Radio putting all its important channels on FM to make them more accessible, a total of fifty-six FM transmitters are to be upgraded to ensure better reception covering a larger area.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore has told Parliament that the upgradation of these transmitters has been approved under the Twelfth Plan.

Maharashtra gets the largest number with nine transmitters being upgraded; followed by Madhya Pradesh with eight; Karnataka and Rajasthan with five each; Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha with three each; Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with two each; and Telengana, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Tripura, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Punjab, and West Bengal upgrading one each.

This also includes the upgradation of Vividh Bharati which is now available on FM transmitters in all the four metros - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

While 46 transmitters are being upgraded to 10 KW, seven including the four Vividh Bharati transmitters will be upgraded to 20 KW and three transmitters are being upgraded to 5 KW.

Meanwhile, an AIR official told radioandmusic.com that the programme production quality and broadcast quality has improved after modernization and technological upgradation. The reach of FM coverage has also been increased and presently available to about 47 per cent of the total population.

Modernization/upgradation plan covers a broad spectrum, which includes digitalization; adoption of new technologies at par with International standards; replacement of old ageing equipment and more, the official added.

Various schemes and works for modernization and technological upgradation of AIR Network have also been approved for implementation under 11th and 12th Plans, some of them includes expansion of FM Services, digitalization of Studios and RNUs, digitalization of connectivity and strengthening of Research and Development, etc.

Meanwhile, the official said the programmes broadcast by local radio stations of AIR are field based and in the local languages/dialects. AIR is constantly reviewing its content policy to tailor it according to the needs and aspirations of the people especially for people living in remote areas of the nation.

AIR broadcasts in 23 languages and 176 dialects throughout the country. AIR broadcasts programmes in 86 dialects in the North-East and 10 dialects in the hilly state of J&K, 14 in Himachal Pradesh and two dialects in the State of Uttarakhand.

All India Radio also lends active, vigorous and extensive support to the centrally sponsored schemes launched by government from time to time through its programmes in varied radio formats and genres put out on its entire network. The AIR stations are regularly mounting programmes on different welfare schemes of the government, the official added.