Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Programmes aired from Radio Kashmir Jammu station of All India Radio are now flawlessly audible across Pak occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and beyond, as a result of which, not only is Radio Kashmir Jammu widely heard in PoJK but is also becoming increasingly popular with each passing day.

This was disclosed here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh after he received a briefing from Director General, All India Radio, Fayyaz Sheheryar about the recent AIR initiatives undertaken in the border State of Jammu & Kashmir.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, with the installation of 300 KV Digital Radio Mondial (DRM) transmitter in Jammu, the range of programmes transmitted from Radio Jammu is as far as 300 kms aerial radius or even beyond which, going by the terrestrial distance, is even longer. This, in other words, he said, means that the programmes of Radio Jammu can be heard beyond PoJK and areas of Pakistan Punjab, including Lahore. With the introduction of DRM transmission, he said, the sound waves are loud, steady and uniform, without missing gaps due to absence of disruption of signal.

Another remarkable headway, Dr Jitendra Singh said, was the decision for setting up an AIR station at Udhampur which had been a long pending demand for several decades and could materialize after constant regular follow-up with the union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The radio station at Udhampur, he said, will have a transmission range of 55 kms aerial radius with a terrestrial range even longer and the sound waves from this Station will also be accessible in PoJK. The land for setting up the Station has been identified by Udhampur district administration in the vicinity of the city and formalities for the transfer and acquisition of land will be taken up soon. The setting up of a studio at Udhampur Radio Station will also be done by the Government of India authorities and AIR, he added.

Dr Jitendra Singh also disclosed that the transmitter at Bhaderwah Radio Station has already been upgraded on public demand and a high power transmitter is in the process of being installed at Patnitop for smooth onward transmission of radio signals in the entire region falling in Udhampur and erstwhile Doda districts.

Fayyaz Sheheryar also disclosed in the meeting that the External Services division of All India Radio is shortly going to start an exclusive news bulletin in “Balochi” language, particularly for the people living in Balochistan province of Pakistan and other areas.