NEW DELHI: The government has announced proposal to give incentives to future FM radio operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the North Eastern States and island territories.
Announcing this today, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil reiterated the resolve of the government to extend the coverage of private FM radio services to all cities with a population of 100,000 and above.
In her address to the joint session of Parliament marking the commencement of the Budget Session, she said a total of 806 new FM radio channels in 283 cities are proposed to be set up.
Noting that the wireless network is the second largest in the world, the President said the Indian telecom network had expanded to almost 800 million connections. The government is now making concerted efforts to take mobile and broadband services to the rural areas.
She added that the target of 40 per cent rural teledensity by 2014 was likely to be exceeded. All panchayats will be provided with broadband connectivity in the next three years.
Meanwhile, she said the nation suffered a national loss in the death of maestro Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. "The void left by his death in the cultural life of our country will be difficult to fill."
She announced that the government had taken a series of steps to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of author and poet Rabindra Nath Tagore.
The Commonwealth Games in October last were a great success. 'Our sports persons secured an unprecedented medal tally. "The citizens of Delhi displayed exemplary discipline and courtesy. We are proud of these achievements," she added.