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 low-income families and free bus travel for transgender persons.
The announcements came during the ongoing Budget Session and are part of the state government’s latest welfare initiatives aimed at reducing household expenses and expanding access to public transport.
Under the newly announced ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ scheme, families with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh will be eligible to receive the cost of three LPG cylinders every year. The scheme is scheduled to begin from Pongal 2027 and is expected to cover around 1.30 crore families.
Instead of providing physical cylinders, the government will directly transfer the amount spent on the three eligible LPG purchases into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. The scheme is expected to cost the state approximately Rs 4,000 crore every year.
‘Free Gas’ Scheme To Help Families Amid Rising LPG Costs
Announcing the measure, Vijay said rising cooking gas prices and shortages linked to the prevailing conflict in the Gulf region had increased the financial pressure on households.
“Keeping this in mind, even during a financially constrained situation, in order to lighten the financial burden on the public, protect their welfare, and fulfil the promise made to the people, the government has decided to provide them with the amount spent towards cooking gas cylinders,” he said in the Assembly.
The announcement also follows a pre-election promise by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to provide six free LPG cylinders annually.
Free Bus Travel For Transgender Persons
Vijay also announced free bus travel for transgender persons as part of the government’s expansion of public transport benefits.
The Chief Minister further announced a major expansion of the ‘Vetri Payanam’ free travel scheme for women.
Under the expanded programme, women will be able to travel without paying fares on Express, LSS and Deluxe buses in addition to ordinary services. The benefit will also cover inter-district bus journeys.
The expanded scheme is scheduled to be launched on October 2.
“Women’s freedom of travel serves as the foundation for their economic independence and the progress of their families,” Vijay said.
He said the existing scheme had certain restrictions, including distance limits and the exclusion of several categories of buses. The expanded programme is intended to remove those limitations and make free public transport available to women across Tamil Nadu on a wider scale.
“This government holds as its primary vision the principle of social justice that no woman residing in any part of Tamil Nadu should lose her opportunities due to transportation costs,” Vijay said.
Vijay Repeats ‘No’ To Parandur Airport
The Chief Minister also reiterated the Tamil Nadu government’s decision not to proceed with the proposed second airport at Parandur near Chennai.
The project has faced opposition from farmers and residents who fear displacement and the loss of agricultural land.
Vijay said the government stood with the affected communities and would look at alternative locations for the proposed airport. He said several possible sites had already been identified.
“The site for the new airport should be chosen in a manner that minimises the impact on farmers and avoids the displacement of large residential areas. However, the previous government pursued a site that would have severely affected farmers and displaced several residential habitations,” he said.
At the same time, the government plans to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam, with Vijay announcing the construction of a new Terminal 5.
