Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Aug 24: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced a series of welfare measures in the Assembly, including three free LPG cylinders a year for families with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh.

The ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ scheme will be implemented from Pongal 2027 and is expected to benefit more than 1.30 crore families. Under the scheme, the cost of three LPG cylinders purchased by eligible beneficiaries will be credited directly to their bank accounts.

The scheme is expected to cost the state exchequer around Rs 4,000 crore annually.

Announcing the measure, Vijay said the shortage of cooking gas cylinders caused by the prevailing situation in the Gulf region, along with rising cylinder prices, had increased the financial burden on households.

He said the government had decided to reimburse the amount spent on cooking gas cylinders despite the state's financial constraints, with the aim of reducing the burden on people and fulfilling its electoral promise.

Vijay also announced the expansion of the ‘Vetri Payanam’ free bus travel scheme for women and free bus travel for transgender persons.

Under the expanded scheme, women will be able to travel free of charge on Express, LSS and Deluxe government buses in addition to ordinary services. The benefit will also cover inter-district travel on eligible government bus services. The expanded scheme will come into effect from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Vijay said there would be no income ceiling or restriction on the number of trips for women under the expanded scheme.

He said the existing free travel facility allowed women to travel on ordinary buses within metropolitan and urban areas, with certain distance restrictions, while the benefit was not available on Express, LSS, Deluxe and other services.

“Women’s freedom of travel serves as the foundation for their economic independence and the progress of their families,” Vijay said.

He said the government was committed to ensuring that no woman in any part of Tamil Nadu lost opportunities because of transportation costs.

The Chief Minister also reiterated his government's decision to drop the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur near Chennai, which had faced opposition from farmers and local residents.

Vijay said the government stood with families who could have been affected by the proposed project and stressed that farmers were the backbone of the country.

He said alternative locations for the airport were being examined and that a few potential sites had already been identified.

The Chief Minister said the new airport site should be selected in a manner that minimises the impact on agricultural land and avoids displacement of large residential areas.

Vijay also announced that a new Terminal 5 would be constructed at the existing Chennai airport in Meenambakkam.

The announcements form part of the Tamil Nadu government's broader welfare and infrastructure agenda, with the LPG and transport measures aimed at reducing household expenses and improving mobility across the state.