IIT-K to start own FM radio station

The stage is all set for IIT-Kanpur (IIT-K) to start its own FM radio station, the first-of-its-kind in any of the IITs in the country.

For the last one year hectic preparations were going on in full swing to start the FM station. On January 26, some testing was done by airing a programme. The station will finally start its operation on March 12 or 13.

A two-day workshop will be organised in the institute’s campus starting March 12 where experts from community FM radio station will be present.

The workshop will discuss problems that come up in running the FM station and how to make it more effective. This will be the first time that an FM radio station would be opened in any of the IITs in the country. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has already given a green signal to the project.

“The project will be the first of its kind in any of the IITs in the country,” Director of IIT-K Professor Sanjay Govind Dhande said. He added the station will function emulating the model of America’s National Public Radio(NPR).

The FM station will air programmes relating to science with special emphasis on making the subject more interesting and simpler to students. It will also air cultural programmes.