Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Announces 3 Free LPG Cylinders For 1.34 Crore Families, Drops Parandur Airport Plan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced on Monday that 1.34 crore families in the state would receive three free LPG cylinders every year. Additionally, he announced the expansion of the free bus travel programme for women, which is currently restricted to regular buses. 

The new "Vettri Payanam Thittam" would allow women to travel for free on express and deluxe buses run by the MTC in Chennai and transport corporations in Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, and other cities, as well as mofussil buses that operate between districts. The scheme will come into effect on October 2. Transgender persons will also be covered under the expanded free bus travel scheme.

Vijay drops Parandur airport project

When Vijay made the statements in the Assembly under Rule 110, he also stated that the government was exploring alternative locations for the project and that the proposed second airport at Parandur had been dropped.

Vijay claimed that during his visit to Parandur last year, he offered his support to the people who had been demonstrating against the proposed airport in Ekanapuram and other villages. He stated, "Works are underway to identify an alternative site."

Free LPG scheme to benefit 1.34 crore families

Vijay explained that the free LPG cylinder programme would benefit about 1.34 crore families, including those with an annual income of up to Rs. 2.5 lakh, small and marginal farmers, and families living below the poverty line. The programme would cost more than Rs. 4,000 crore a year.

He stated that eligible individuals would receive a direct credit to their bank accounts for the cost of the three cylinders. The first phase of the scheme is scheduled to begin from Pongal 2027.

Free bus travel limit, income cap to be removed

Regarding the expansion of free bus travel, Vijay stated that women were only permitted to travel 40 kilometres in regular buses under the current programme. The distance travelled will no longer be limited. Additionally, there will be no cap on the number of trips or an income threshold for receiving the benefit, he stated.

Stalin calls Parandur airport decision ‘irreversible setback’

In response to the decision to abandon the Parandur airport project, DMK chairman and former chief minister MK Stalin called it a "massive disappointment" and an "irreversible setback" for the state, saying it would delay Tamil Nadu's growth by several years.

He claimed that the project, which was developed during the previous DMK government, had been meticulously prepared after considering alternative locations. The land acquisition process was nearly finished, and a number of preliminary projects and approvals were already in place.

According to Stalin, giving up on the project and starting over at another location would hinder development and have an impact on Tamil Nadu's growth trajectory.

Additionally, he criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for "shutting out" debate on such a crucial matter by announcing the decision before the Assembly under Rule 110, which prohibits discussion.