The government has granted permission to Private FM channels to broadcast news and news-based programmes recently. Delivering the concluding address of the Outreach Internationa Radio Fair 2016 in Bhubaneswar this evening, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said granting of permission to broadcast news in private FM network, has increased the popularity and acceptance of radio at local level. <br/><br/>He said currently 45 per cent of the country's geographical area is covered by FM radio broadcasting while it would go up to 65 per cent in next 2 to 3 years. Mr. Rathore said the government is planning to set up at least 3 FM radio stations in cities with more than one lakh population. He said, in Odisha, four more cities will be covered by FM broadcasting under Phase III of the FM radio broadcasting very soon. <br/><br/>Union Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan who also attended the concluding session of the event said the popularity and golden days of radio again come back with Prime Minister's address on Maan Ki Baat Programme on Radio.