Ten additional radio stations to go on air by this year

Agartala, Aug 22 (UNI) In all, ten additional radio stations and private FM radio stations are expected to go on air by the end of this year in the North Eastern region.

Regarding this, a new policy of expansion of FM broadcasting through private operators in the region was notified during July, along with other parts of the country to expand the broadcasting system.

According to official sources, Sikkim was on top with three such stations, followed by Assam and Meghalaya with two each. Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura will have one such station.

A special package for expansion of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) coverage in the North Eastern region, along with Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep has also been approved by the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry in May last year.

With the launch of ''DD Direct Plus,'' both AIR and TV signals can be received all over the country, including the North Eastern region, except Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the help of small size dish receiving system.

The sources also said that Doordarshan transmission is not affected by the foreign TV signals, although Chinese TV signals are received in some areas of the bordermost North Eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh during favourble seasonal conditions.

Though Chinese radio channels are audible on different frequencies in Arunachal Pradesh, coverage of AIR transmitters in that state has not been affected by Chinese transmitters, the sources stated.

UNI