Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced a series of welfare schemes, including free LPG cylinders for low-income families and expanded free bus travel benefits for women and transgender persons.
Under the ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ scheme, families with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh will receive the cost of three LPG cylinders every year. The scheme will begin from Pongal 2027 and is expected to benefit around 1.30 crore families across Tamil Nadu.
The cost of the three LPG cylinders will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. The scheme is estimated to cost the state government around Rs 4,000 crore annually. Announcing the scheme in the Assembly, Vijay said the rising prices of cooking gas and increasing household expenses have created additional financial pressure on families. He added that the initiative aims to reduce the burden on people and support their welfare.
Along with the LPG scheme, the Chief Minister also announced free bus travel for transgender persons and an expansion of the existing free travel scheme for women.
Under the revised ‘Vettri Payana Thittam’, women will now be able to travel free on more categories of government buses, including Express, LSS and Deluxe services. The benefit will also be extended to inter-district bus services.
Earlier, the free travel facility for women was available only on ordinary and hilly-route buses in metropolitan and urban areas. The expanded scheme will allow women to travel across more routes without worrying about transportation costs. Vijay said affordable public transport plays an important role in supporting women’s independence and helping them access education, employment and other opportunities.
The expanded women’s free travel scheme will be implemented from October 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The initiative is expected to increase the state government’s expenditure by around Rs 6,000 crore every year.
Meanwhile, Vijay also reiterated his government’s decision to oppose the proposed Parandur airport project near Chennai, following concerns raised by farmers and local residents. He said the government is exploring alternative locations that minimise displacement and impact on agricultural land.
The Chief Minister also announced plans for a new Terminal 5 at Chennai airport in Meenambakkam. The latest announcements focus on reducing financial pressure on families, improving public transport access and strengthening welfare support for different sections of society in Tamil Nadu.
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