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The auction for new FM radio licences is unlikely to start this fiscal, as promised. But the good news is that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is kickstarting the process at the end of this month, so that the auction can take place mid-April.
The Union Cabinet had approved the I&B Ministry's proposal for granting new FM radio licences to private players, under Phase III of FM radio expansion last July. It was indicated then that the process would be completed before the end of this fiscal.
“By the end of next month, the auctioneer should be in place. One more month down the line, the request for proposal would be ready. Mid-April seems a good time for the auction to start,” an informed source told Business Line .
The I&B Ministry intends to appoint an independent agency through a transparent selection process to conduct the e-auction. The Government has been counting on raking in at least Rs 1,733 crore from auctioning FM radio licences. Once this happens, FM services are expected to be extended to over 800 cities and towns, including an estimated 227 new locations.
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