The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) is planning to invest Rs 3,500 crore to upgrade Prasar Bharati's network development and broadcast infrastructure, especially in border areas.

The upgradation plan has been recommended by Expenditure Finance Committee, which is awaiting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The investment funds will be used to make the transmission network stronger in the border areas by improving the broadcast infrastructure so as to keep a tab on anti-terrorist activities. The funds will also be used for digitisation of transmitters and studios of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, High Definition TV, expansion of DD Direct to Home and modernisation of DD and AIR network. It will also be used for expansion of FM services by AIR.

On the other hand, plans for expansion of TV coverage to border areas will be amongst the major concerns for the ministry. These plans include areas in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and north eastern states. Currently, 273 TV transmitters are operating in border districts. In J&K, five high power TV transmitter projects are under execution, while plans are underway to put in more transmitters in the Indo-Nepal border.