MUMBAI: 'Jago Mumbai' 107.8 FM, the community radio venture initiated by the Union Park Residents Association, Mumbai is hopeful of hitting the airwaves in January next year.Having signed the GOPA (Grant of Permission Agreement) in September 2009 with the Information and Broadcasting ministry, the NGO is on the lookout for sponsors to fund the project.

The Khar based Union Park Residents Association has been involved in ALM (Advance locality management) from the past few years and have been working in the areas of environment, conservation of electricity, water harvesting etc. Explaining the objective behind setting up a community radio station, chairman of the radio project Naveen Chandra states, "We want to expand our activities by reaching out to the masses and educating them about to curtail the exploitation of the environment."

"We are awaiting the issue of operating license and frequency from the ministry and would be initiating our broadcast within three months as per the regulations of GOPA."

The community radio would have a reach of 10 kms and reach out areas of Mahim, Juhu, Andheri, Carter road, Bandra, Versova and cover a pollution of two million in the area. "At the radio station, we would concentrate on civic issues like conservation of energy and water, garbage management, cleanliness, health, sanitation. It is intended to empower, unearth and showcase that community radio station can provide a network for social interface resulting in self - development."

Jago Mumbai would be the second community radio station in Mumbai after Mumbai University run 'Must FM' started in February 2008. Both the stations would have the same frequency of 107.8 FM; Must FM and Jago Mumbai would operate from central and western suburbs respectively. "We would be exchanging some content with Must FM on civic issues."

The NGO would be buying its transmitter from Tata Elxsi and is looking out for sponsors to bear the cost of setting up the infrastructure. "As it is a NGO funded station, we are partially funding the radio project and are on a lookout for sponsors to rope in for the community radio."

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