TN CM Vijay announces 3 free LPG cylinders, expands free bus travel, axes Parandur Airport project

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday made a series of major announcements in the Legislative Assembly, fulfilling several key electoral assurances of the TVK. Among the major decisions, the Chief Minister declared three free cooking gas cylinders annually for eligible households, expanded the fare-free bus travel scheme for women and announced that the controversial Parandur greenfield airport project will be shelved.

The Parandur airport project had faced strong opposition from local farmers who resisted parting with their agricultural lands.

3 free LPG cylinders under ‘Annapoorani Super 6’

Under the newly formulated 'Annapoorani Super 6' scheme, three free Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders will be provided annually to female heads of households, commencing from the upcoming Pongal festival in January. Carrying an estimated annual budgetary allocation of approximately Rs 4,000 crore, the welfare initiative is set to benefit over 1.30 crore eligible families across the state via a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.

The scheme covers households with an annual income not exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh, economically weaker sections, families of small and marginal farmers and families of differently-abled persons. The cost of the cooking gas cylinder will be reimbursed and directly credited to the bank accounts of female heads of families upon booking and delivery based on official billing from oil marketing companies.

Highlighting the economic challenges that prompted the relief measure, the Chief Minister said, “Considering this, even in a situation of financial constraint, our government has decided to provide the amount spent on gas cylinders to the public, aiming to reduce their financial burden, protect their welfare and fulfil the promise made to them. Therefore, to benefit female heads of families, in the first phase, three free gas cylinders will be provided annually under the 'Annapoorani Super 6' scheme. Preparatory work has begun, and the scheme will be implemented from the upcoming Pongal festival in January with an annual allocation of approximately Rs 4,000 crore.”

Reaffirming the government's commitment to women's empowerment as outlined in the ‘Vetri Vision Document’, the Chief Minister reiterated that several targeted schemes, including 'Singa Pen' special task force, ‘Thaimaman Thangamothiram’, ‘Vetri Magalir Adugal Valarppu’, and ‘Annanin Seer’, have already been allocated necessary budgetary funds.

Expansion of free bus travel via ‘Vetri Payanam’

The Chief Minister also announced the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme, which remarkably expands the scope of free bus travel for women and transgender commuters starting from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Under the expanded transport initiative, services such as Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe government buses operating in metropolitan and urban centres will now be free for women and transgender persons. To enhance inter-district mobility, the benefit will also extend to ordinary fare buses running across mofussil and hilly areas.

The implementation of the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme will incur an estimated annual expenditure of approximately Rs 6,000 crore for the state exchequer. The government clarified that the scheme will operate without any income caps or limitations on the number of trips.

Agencies