Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Oct 3: The radio which once used to provide soothing music to the visitors of Bhujanga Park had fallen silent some decades ago. The district administration has since breathed life into it again. The radio, which was recently repaired, was dedicated to the people on October 2.

The radio tower in the park had been built in 1938. It had been inaugurated by the then law minister of Madras Presidency.

In course of time, the radio had developed problems and was shut down. Many citizens from the city had approached the municipality and district administration with a request to repair the radio.

Deputy commissioner of the district, G Jagadeesha, had noticed the fact that the radio tower in the park was not functional. He had instructed the municipality to repair the same, and the radio tower stands repaired at a cost of Rs 85,000. It now provides melodious music to the people visiting the park from 5.30 pm to 8 pm every day. The visitors to the park are sure to feel the freshness of the radio experience. Four microphones and an amplifier have been provided.

The original appearance of the tower has not been meddled with. The radio also has the facility to adjust it to FM frequency for the people to clearly hear the music. It also sounds siren at 8 am, 12.30 pm and 8 pm every day. A staff has been deployed to manage the radio.

In the past, people who did not have money to acquire radio used to reach the tower and move around it to hear music. That was the time when people needed to have a licence to use radio. In addition to radio music, alarm was sounded at 7 am and 12 noon. The locals say that the sound from the tower used to be heard up to Ajjarkad and Ambalpady.

In addition to entertainment, this radio was also used to make public announcement and to spread awareness about epidemics. Tulu programme was also transmitted. The tower is in the shape of octagon and it has been designed with the concept of Radio Park. Visitors are happy that it has been repaired. Vineeth Rao, a lecturer here, says that how the visitors to the park utilise the facility is also very important.