All India Radio, Allahabad was commissioned on 1st February 1949 with a low power medium wave transmitter and studios in a rented building at 7/9, Thornhill Road (now Dayanand Marg) premises of which was later acquired for construction of permanent type III studios in the year 1965. Vividh Bharti services were started on 1st January 1966 with 1 KW MW Transmitter which was replaced by 2x5 KW FM Transmitter on 1.06.1995. Now this Transmitter has been replaced by 10 KW RVR make FM Transmitter since 4.12.2014. The first Station Director/ Station Engineer of AIR, Allahabad were Shri A.N. Kaul and Shri K.B.G. Menon respectively.
Allahabad is known for its rich cultural heritage, situated on the confluence of holy sangam it attracts teaming millions from all over the world. Besides contributing a lot towards India's fight for freedom Allahabad is blessed with major gigantic literary figures like Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Mahadevi Verma, Dr. Dharmveer Bharti, Vidya Niwas Mishra, Sumitranandan Pant. AIR, Allahabad had the privilege of recording these literary stalwarts in its studios some of these recordings are still intact in its archival library, these valuable recordings are of immense importance to AIR. At present the archives at AIR, Allahabad are fully digitalized and it has a huge collection of songs, bhajans and speeches.
Since inception itself AIR, Allahabad maintained high level of broadcast standards and the station was conferred with Akashvani Laghu Natak Pratiyogita 1991 Award; Rajbhasha Trophy 2003; Akashvani Annual Awards for Programme and Technical Excellence in the year 2003 and 2005; Best maintained station in North Zone 2006 and 2010; Nagar Rajbhasha Trophy 2010, 2013-14 and 2016-2017. The station also won International ABU Award in the year 2016 "Diary of a Tiger" for community service announcement.
Excellence in every field is perceived. The station has skillfully maintained the studios with 100% digital equipment broadcasting popular radio programmes based on bahujan hitaai and bahujan sukhaai. The station produces excellent programmes and has made a mark in U.P. The phone-in and live programmes are appreciated by one and all. The station is also known for maintaining proper records and transparency. AIR, Allahabad is stepping into its 70th year of service to the Nation under the able headship of Shri B.R. Jaiswal, Dy. Director (Eng.), mature and versatile programme head Shri Manjul Kishor Verma, Asstt. Director of Programmes and Shri Haribhan Singh, Administrative Officer and head of account section who have contributed immensely for the popularity of the station.
Source : AIR Allahabad allahabad@prasarbharati.gov.in