NEW DELHI: Aimed at expediting the e-auctioning of the first batch of the FM Radio Phase III auctions, all applicants will be trained and apprised of the e-auction system in Delhi next week.

M/s CI India Private Ltd, the e-auctioneer and auction adviser to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, is to conduct the training on 22 April in the Soochna Bhavan. A maximum of two representatives of each applicant can attend the meeting.

A total of 135 private FM Radio Channels will be auctioned in the first batch covering 69 cities in Phase III.

This covers towns and cities which already have FM but have vacancy for more, apart from areas which do not have FM Radio.

I&B Ministry sources said, apart from news that will be taken from All India Radio (AIR) under conditions to be mutually agreed with Prasar Bharati, Phase III will consider as non-news and current affairs live coverage of sports events of local nature, information pertaining to weather and traffic, cultural events and festivals, topics relating to examinations, results, admissions, career counsel availability of employment opportunities and public announcements pertaining to civic amenities.

In addition, categories not permitted at present that may subsequently be permitted by the Ministry subsequently from time to time.

The largest beneficiaries of the first batch are Maharashtra, including Mumbai with 26 channels in 13 towns; Uttar Pradesh comes next with 22 channels in eight cities, followed by nine channels in six towns of Rajasthan and eight channels in five cities in Tamil Nadu.