Tamil Nadu Welfare: Free Buses, LPG, Airport Project Cancelled

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a significant welfare package, fulfilling key electoral promises made by his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

These initiatives include expanded free bus travel for women, three free LPG cylinders annually for eligible families, and the abandonment of the controversial Parandur greenfield airport project.

Expanding Women’s Free Bus Travel

The ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme will now allow women to travel without charge on additional government bus categories. This includes Express, LSS, and Deluxe services in metropolitan and urban areas, along with regular-fare buses in suburban and hilly regions.

• The scheme will have no income ceiling or limit on trips.
• It is scheduled to commence on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.
• The expansion is projected to cost the state an additional Rs 6,000 crore annually.

Annapoorani Super Six: Three Free LPG Cylinders

Chief Minister Vijay also initiated the first phase of the ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ scheme, which promises three free cooking gas cylinders per year for eligible families. The financial equivalent of these cylinders will be directly credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

This program aims to alleviate the financial burden on a substantial number of households, targeting specific criteria for eligibility.

• 1,30,16,104 families are eligible, including those with an annual income up to Rs 2.5 lakh.
• Other eligible groups are economically backward families, small and medium farmers, differently-abled individuals, and poor families.
• The scheme is slated for launch during Pongal in mid-January 2027.
• An annual allocation of Rs 4,000 crore has been designated for this initiative.

Parandur Airport Project Abandoned

In a pivotal decision, CM Vijay announced the cancellation of the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project. This project had previously faced considerable opposition from local farmers and villagers, who expressed concerns over potential land and home displacement.

The government will now proceed with identifying an alternative site for Chennai’s second airport. This search will prioritize locations free from public opposition and will follow thorough technical feasibility studies.

• A key factor in the abandonment was that nearly 55% of the original Parandur site consisted of waterbodies and wetlands.
• These natural features posed significant safety and flooding risks, impacting the project’s viability.