16 Cities of Karnataka Including Gadag, Raichur, Belagavi Set to Get New FM Radio Channels
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a plan to auction 730 FM radio channels across 234 new cities in India. The initiative, aimed at expanding the reach of private FM radio, is estimated to involve a reserve price of ₹784.87 crore.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted on X that this decision will improve access to diverse and localized content, fostering creativity and promoting regional languages and cultures. Many of the targeted cities and towns are situated in aspirational districts and areas impacted by Left-Wing Extremism. The allocation of channels will be significant, with 100 channels designated for 32 cities in Uttar Pradesh, 68 for 22 cities in Andhra Pradesh, 61 for 20 cities in Madhya Pradesh, and 59 for 19 cities in Rajasthan. Additional channels are planned for Bihar (57), Karnataka (53), West Bengal (42), Maharashtra (36), Tamil Nadu (33), Telangana (31), Punjab (28), Gujarat (24), Haryana (27), and Jharkhand (19).
In Karnataka, cities like Bagalkote, Belagavi, Ballari, Bidar, Vijayapura, Gadag-Betageri, Udupi, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Raichur, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Hospete, and Kolar will have private FM stations.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to set the Annual License Fee (ALF) for FM channels at 4% of gross revenue, excluding GST. This fee structure will apply to the 234 new cities and towns included in the scheme.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated at a press conference that this initiative aims to address the existing demand for FM radio in underserved areas. The new channels will feature fresh and local content in regional languages, potentially generating employment, enhancing local dialects and cultures, and supporting the “vocal for local” movement.
