New FM Transmitter Boosts Radio Reach in Rajasthan Border Areas

Addressing officials and stakeholders during the event, Vaishnaw emphasised the need for Prasar Bharati to evolve alongside rapidly changing technologies and audience preferences.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday inaugurated a new 20 kW Akashvani FM transmitter at Ramgarh in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, a move expected to significantly strengthen radio broadcasting services in India's border regions.

The inauguration was conducted virtually from the Akashvani Jaipur premises. With the addition of the Ramgarh station, Rajasthan's total number of FM transmitters has increased to 39, expanding the reach of public broadcasting across the state. The new transmitter will provide radio coverage within an 80-kilometre radius, covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres of Jaisalmer district and surrounding border areas. Residents will gain improved access to information, educational content, public service announcements and entertainment programming.

Focus on Digital and Localised Broadcasting

Addressing officials and stakeholders during the event, Vaishnaw emphasised the need for Prasar Bharati to evolve alongside rapidly changing technologies and audience preferences. He called for a "Digital First" and "Hyper-Local" broadcasting strategy, encouraging officials to prepare a roadmap that can help public broadcasting remain relevant in the digital era. The Minister also highlighted the importance of incorporating local artists, artisans and community voices into programming, creating stronger connections between broadcasters and local audiences.

The vision, according to Vaishnaw, is to make public broadcasting more responsive to regional needs while leveraging new technologies to reach wider audiences.

Border Communication Infrastructure Gets a Boost

The Ramgarh transmitter is expected to play an important role in strengthening communication infrastructure in border regions. Apart from serving residents of Jaisalmer district, the facility will extend broadcasting services to nearby areas that previously had limited access to strong radio signals.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to expand Akashvani and Doordarshan infrastructure across India's frontier regions. The government has outlined a vision of creating dedicated broadcast infrastructure stretching "from Kashmir to Kutch," ensuring reliable communication and information access throughout border communities.

Officials believe the expansion will improve the dissemination of government information, emergency communication and locally relevant programming in strategically important regions.

Technology and Public Broadcasting in Focus

During his address, Vaishnaw also referred to the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Data Centre in Jaipur, describing it as an important step toward building future-ready technological infrastructure.

Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi highlighted the continued relevance of Akashvani and Doordarshan, noting that both institutions remain deeply connected to local communities and play a critical role in delivering trusted information and reflecting grassroots realities.

The event was attended by Rajasthan Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar, Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, Akashvani Director General Rajeev Kumar Jain and other officials, while Jaisalmer MP Umedaram Beniwal joined virtually.

The launch marks another step in expanding public broadcasting reach while combining traditional media strengths with emerging digital technologies.