New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated 91 FM transmitters in 84 districts across 18 states and 2 union territories on Friday. Prime Minister said, "When it comes to radio and FM, my relationship with it is that of a passionate listener as well as that of a host." "Today the expansion of All India Radio's (AIR) FM service is a big and important step towards becoming All India FM. This launch of 91 FM transmitters of All India FM is like a gift for 2 crore people in 85 districts of the country," PM Modi said. The tech revolution has led to shaping radio and FM in a new way. Radio hasn’t gone obsolete. Through online FMs and podcasts, it has come in a new avatar. Digital India has given it new listeners. Today many education courses are available on DTH services. FM radio & DTH have… pic.twitter.com/P5SvqO1ub4 — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023 Speaking on occasion, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said, "This is a historic move. This will be very helpful in transmitting information related to entertainment, sports, and farming to the local people. Mann Ki Baat increased the popularity of radio." Today another record has been established. Nyoma has the world's highest transmitter at an altitude of 4,100. Its benefit is going to be available for many km. Our people will also get the facility of FM, listen to programs, get news and will get an opportunity to take forward… pic.twitter.com/0GPhWzILjn — ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023 According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's office, the 91 new 100 Watt FM transmitters have been installed in 84 districts across 18 States and 2 Union Territories. A special focus of this expansion has been on enhancing coverage in Aspirational Districts and in border areas, the statement read. "The States and UTs covered include Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Ladakh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands," PMO stated. डिजिटल इंडिया ने रेडियो को नए listeners भी दिये हैं, और नई सोच भी दी है। pic.twitter.com/JIH9cI2NNF — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 28, 2023 The PMO further said, "With this expansion of AIR's FM service, an additional 2 crore people, who did not have access to the medium, will now be covered. It will result in an expansion of coverage in about 35,000 sq km area." Prime Minister has firmly believed in radio's important role in reaching out to the masses. To harness the unique strength of the medium to reach out to the widest possible audience, Prime Minister started the Mann ki Baat programme, which is now nearing its landmark 100th episode, the statement added.
