New Delhi, Aug 28, 2024, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, Aug 28: Belonia, the headquarters of South Tripura district, will have three Private FM Radio with the Union Cabinet Wednesday approving the list for 234 uncovered new cities/towns.

A meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for conduct of the 3rd batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities with estimated reserve price of Rs.784.87 crore under Private FM Radio Phase-Ill Policy.

Among the other northeastern states, Assam is to get 18 -- three each in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Nagaon (Nowgang), Silchar, Tezpur and Tinsukia. Nagaland will get nine -- three each in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokukchung. Imphal (Manipur) will get four, while Jowai (Meghalaya) and Lunglei (Mizoram) will have three each.

Port Blair too will have three new channels.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal to charge Annual License Fee (ALF) of FM channel as 4% of Gross Revenue excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST). This will be applicable for 234 new cities/towns, according to an official release.

The Private FM Radio rollout in 234 new cities/towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these cities/towns, which still remain uncovered by Private FM radio broadcasting and bring new/local content in mother tongue.

It will lead to creation of new employment opportunities, boost to local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives, the release said.

Many of the approved cities/towns are in aspirational districts and LWE affected areas. Setting up of Private FM Radio in will further strengthen Government outreach in these areas.