India’s main public broadcaster is set to receive US$516 million shot in the arm to pay for new broadcast infrastructure, according to local media.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) is looking at an extra 3,500 crore Indian rupees in investment in Prasar Bharti.

All India Radio (AIR), along with public TV Doordarshan, comes under the Prasar Bharti umbrella.

A report by The Hindu Business Line says the proposals have been recommended by senior finance ministry officials and are now set for approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Part of the cash will be used to fund the digitisation of transmitters and studios used by AIR.

The radio broadcaster has already begun installing Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) technology around the country, replacing its old AM transmitters.

Some of the budget has been earmarked for new transmitters in the border regions of Jammu and Kashmir and the North-Eastern states.