Cabinet Approves Rolling Out Private FM Radio For 234 Uncovered New Cities

It will lead to the creation of new employment opportunities, boost local dialect and culture and 'vocal for local' initiatives, it underlined.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to hold a third batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 channels in 234 new cities under the Private FM Radio Phase III Policy.

The estimated reserve price has been pegged at Rs 784.87 crore.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here that the Cabinet also approved a proposal to charge an annual license fee (ALF) for the FM channel as four per cent of gross revenue excluding GST. This will be applicable to 234 new cities/towns.