JAIPUR — In a major step to reinforce communication networks along India’s western frontier, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually inaugurated a powerful 20 kW Akashvani FM transmitter at Ramgarh in Jaisalmer on Thursday.
Launching the facility from the Akashvani Jaipur premises, Vaishnaw stated that the project directly advances the central government’s strategic vision of establishing seamless, high-performance broadcast infrastructure “from Kashmir to Kutch.”
Massive Airwave Coverage for Border Communities
The installation marks a significant upgrade to local communications, expanding the total number of FM transmitters across Rajasthan to 39.
The newly commissioned Ramgarh transmitter is engineered to project a strong signal across an 80-kilometer broadcast radius. This effectively brings high-quality radio coverage to nearly 20,000 square kilometers of Jaisalmer’s rugged border terrain, granting remote desert communities consistent access to national news, emergency broadcasts, educational programming, and entertainment.
The Vision: “Digital First” and “Hyper-Local” Radio
During his address to public broadcasters, Vaishnaw outlined a modern blueprint for public broadcaster Prasar Bharati to thrive in an increasingly internet-driven media landscape. He emphasized that traditional radio must undergo a deep operational evolution to hold the public’s attention.
“In the era of rapid technological advancement, radio broadcasting must adopt a ‘Digital First’ and ‘Hyper-Local’ approach to remain relevant and impactful,” the Minister stated.
Vaishnaw directed Prasar Bharati officials to immediately draft a comprehensive transformation roadmap based on two priorities:
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Hyper-Local Content Integration: Methodically bringing regional artists, folk musicians, and local artisans directly into the broadcasting schedule to preserve and celebrate border cultures.
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AI Data Centre Groundwork: Leveraging a newly planned Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Centre in Jaipur as a technological foundation to modernize public media delivery and data management.
Echoing these thoughts, Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi highlighted the unique, enduring trust that legacy public institutions like Akashvani and Doordarshan hold at the grassroots level. “These organizations are deeply connected to the roots of society,” Joshi remarked, noting their vital function in reflecting authentic ground realities to the wider nation.
The high-profile inauguration was attended in person and virtually by a panel of regional leaders, including Rajasthan’s Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar, Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Jaisalmer MP Umedaram Beniwal, and Akashvani Director General Rajeev Kumar Jain. The event concluded with the Minister interacting with Prasar Bharati’s young officer cadre, urging them to lead the charge in shifting public broadcasting into the digital age.
