Free LPG cylinders for 1.3 crore families; Chief Minister Vijay unveils welfare measures, scraps Parandur airport project

CHENNAI: 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 eligible families and an expansion of the free bus travel scheme for women.

Under the ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ scheme, three LPG cylinders will be provided free of cost every year in the first phase. The scheme will cover families with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh, as well as other economically vulnerable groups, including small and marginal farmer families and families of persons with disabilities. It will be implemented from Pongal 2027, Vijay said.
Around 1.30 crore families are expected to benefit from the scheme. More precisely, the government has estimated that 1,30,16,104 families will be covered. The cost of the LPG cylinders will be credited directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. The scheme is expected to cost the state government Rs 4,000 crore annually.

Vijay also announced an expansion of the ‘Vetri Payanam’ free bus travel scheme for women. Under the expanded scheme, women will be allowed to travel free of cost not only on ordinary buses but also on Express, LSS (Limited Stop Service) and Deluxe government buses operating in cities and towns.
The benefit will also be extended to ordinary-fare buses operating in suburban and hilly areas for inter-district travel. The expanded scheme will come into effect from October 2. There will be no income ceiling or limit on the number of journeys a woman can make under the scheme, according to the announcement. Transgender persons will also be eligible for free travel. The expanded scheme is expected to cost the state Rs 6,000 crore annually.

Vijay further announced that the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project would be abandoned and that a new location for Chennai’s second airport would be identified. The government has also decided to expand the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam.
The Chief Minister had earlier opposed the Parandur project, which had faced sustained resistance from local residents over land acquisition, displacement and the impact on agricultural land and water bodies.
The government is also planning a fifth terminal at Chennai airport as part of the expansion of the existing facility.