PM, Sonia inaugurate National Media Centre

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday inaugurated the National Media Centre here on Raisina Road which is said to be equipped with the latest technologies of information dissemination.

Speaking on this occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh asserted that media and civil society are an essential part of democracy and nation building and added that the UPA Government has always fostered a free, pluralistic and independent media.

"Media is a reflection of the entire society at large and the media has enormous reach. Media and civil society are an essential part of democracy and nation building. Advancements like internet, telecom revolution, low cost broadcasting and social media were inconceivable two decades ago. I reiterate commitment of UPA Government in fostering a free, pluralistic and independent media," he told media here today.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also said that themedia is an institution that has strengthened democracy.

"We welcome the watchdog role of the media, and the criticism of our policies. Media is an institution that has strengthened democracy," she said.

According to reports, the National Media Centre has been constructed by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of Rs. 60 crore over a period of three years.

The Centre is located at 7-E, Raisina Road and it is in proximity to Rashtrapati Bhawan, government offices, Vigyan Bhavan and Parliament House.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had said that the location will cut distance and travel time between events for dignitaries and the media personnel.

The Ministry added that this initiative aims at improving dissemination of information about government policies and programmes.

The Centre is equipped with a wi-fi enabled press conference hall for 283 media persons, a briefing room for about 60 persons, 24 work stations for journalists, a library, media lounge with wi-fi facilities and a cafeteria.

Reports state other facilities at the Centre are optic fibre Internet backbone with redundancy, mini data centre for application development and hosting webcast, including live webcast, Video feed to TV channels, IT facilities to media persons in work area and lounge, Internet telephony and AV Video Wall.