Call for upgraded radio infra near Amritsar district
Radio listeners have demanded the expansion of All India Radio’s FM tower and the addition of new infrastructure at Gharinda, located on the Amritsar-Attari GT Road, to increase its current coverage area.
They said the existing guywire-supported 100-metre-high tower is insufficient to relay signals across regions in both India and Pakistan.
Prof Mohan Singh suggested that until Prasar Bharati finalises a new design for a 400-metre-high concrete monolithic structure, the existing 203-metre-high tower could be utilised to double the coverage range of All India Radio Amritsar. He said this interim measure could benefit listeners in Lahore and Amritsar.
He further proposed that global tenders be invited to construct a 400-metre tower featuring an observation deck with dining facilities at a height of 300 metres. Such a development, he added, could boost tourism in Amritsar, given Gharinda’s proximity to the International Border.
Calling for an overhaul of infrastructure at the site, he said an office-cum-studio complex should also be built. He emphasised that Amritsar, considering its size, status, and proximity to Lahore, deserves a full-fledged programme-originating facility.
Over 19 years ago, the project was conceptualised to counter alleged propaganda from Pakistan in the border belt. Under the plan, a 300-metre-high transmission tower was to be constructed in Gharinda with a 100-km range, covering parts of both India and Pakistan, including Jalandhar. The tower was completed after six years of construction. However, a team from IIT Roorkee later found a tilt in its upper portion, raising safety concerns. Prasar Bharati had asked the contractor to rectify the defect, but the issue remained unresolved.
Subsequently, a smaller 100-metre tower was constructed nearby, and the FM-transmitting antenna from the original tower was installed on it, reducing the effective range to around 50 km.
Harjap Singh Aujla, a retired engineer, said there is an urgent need for a second FM transmitter at Gharinda. He said that until a few months ago, five hours of the nine-hour daily Urdu Service were being relayed by AIR Amritsar. However, the evening and nightly segments of 3.5 hours are currently not broadcast.
He added that the Punjabi service ‘Des Punjab’ was earlier reduced by 30 minutes and later by an hour. While some adjustments have been made, including the reduction of certain Hindi news bulletins, no English bulletin has been introduced despite its relevance for audiences in Lahore. He suggested that the nightly 9.15 pm Urdu news bulletin and the full Urdu Service from 9.30 pm to 1 am should be restored on 103.6 MHz.
He also recommended that the 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm broadcast from the Golden Temple be aired on AIR Amritsar’s FM frequency. With the addition of another transmitter, he said, the station could carry the full primary channel of AIR Jalandhar, while the second transmitter could broadcast the complete ‘Des Punjab’ and Urdu services.
Aujla, who recently visited the Gharinda site, said he was surprised to find no visible signs of rust on the free-standing 203-metre-high remnant of the original 300-metre radio and TV tower. He said that the structure should ideally have been repainted in red and white by now. Parts of the dismantled structure, he observed, are lying on the ground near the tower.
“I did not observe significant corrosion, but the components have been exposed to stagnant water after heavy rainfall. After a proper engineering inspection, the tower could potentially be recommissioned as an interim arrangement,” he said, adding that a team of experts should be sent to assess the site conditions.
