The Indian government has approved 18 new FM radio channels for the north-eastern states and 15 new FM channels for Jammu & Kashmir, according to The Times of India.

The new channels are being launched with the objective of improving the reach and impact of radio in border areas, where other means of broadcast are not available.

In Jammu & Kashmir, three channels each will be launched in Kathua, Bhaderwah, Kargil, Leh and Poonch.

In the northeast, three channels each will be launched in Haflong and Dhubri in Assam, Jowai in Meghalaya, Lung-lei in Mizoram, Mokukchung in Nagaland and Belonia in Tripura.

This is in addition to the existing 12 FM channels already functional in these states which share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.

According to Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh, radio is the most convenient medium of broadcast in these areas where television is not accessible and the added advantage is that radio broadcast can be heard even without electricity.