NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore has said there are plans to reach out All India Radio (AIR) to 65 per cent of the country through FM in the next two and half years.

He said FM, at present, covers nearly 45 per cent of the country, adding it is important that both AIR and Doordarshan reach out to remote places.

Rathore was speaking in Chennai after inaugurating the Vividh Bharati channel of All India Radio in Chennai, which is now available on FM 100.5 MHz in addition to MW 383.1/783 KHz.

Vividh Bharati was launched on 3 October 1957 and initially beamed on 100 kw SW transmitter and later on a 2.5 kw MW transmitter.

AIR and Doordarshan Additional Director General (Engineering) S K Aggarwal said by moving to FM Chennai Vividh Bharati would be available to a larger audience as it can be accessed on mobile phones.

It will be available at a radius of 35 km and increased to around 70 km over a period of time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on reaching out to people through All India Radio, particularly since he commenced his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’, which will be aired on 22 February at 8.00 p.m. and will focus on board and competitive examinations.