Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a fresh set of welfare measures in the Assembly on August 24, including free LPG cylinders for low-income families, expanded free bus travel for women and a separate free travel facility for transgender persons.
The announcements come as the state government seeks to provide additional financial support to households amid rising cooking gas prices and concerns over the impact of the prevailing situation in the Gulf region.
Three Free LPG Cylinders From Pongal 2027
Under the newly announced 'Annapoorani Six' scheme, families with an annual income below ₹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 across Tamil Nadu.
Rather than providing physical cylinders free of charge, the government will credit the amount spent on the three eligible LPG cylinders directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts.
The scheme is expected to place an additional financial burden of around ₹4,000 crore annually on the state exchequer.
Announcing the initiative, Vijay said rising LPG prices and shortages linked to the prevailing Gulf situation had increased household expenses. He said the government had decided to reimburse the cost of cooking gas to ease financial pressure on families and fulfil its commitment to voters, despite the state's financial constraints.
Women To Get Wider Free Bus Travel
The Chief Minister also announced a major expansion of the government's 'Vettri Payanam' free bus travel scheme for women.
Under the expanded programme, women will be able to travel free of charge on additional categories of government buses, including express, LSS and Deluxe services.
The benefit will also be extended to eligible inter-district services, giving women greater access to free public transportation beyond the existing restrictions.
The expanded scheme is scheduled to come into effect on October 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The government estimates that the expansion will require an additional expenditure of around ₹6,000 crore every year.
What Changes Under Vettri Payanam?
The existing free travel programme primarily allows women to use ordinary and certain hilly-route government buses without paying fares, with restrictions on distance and service categories.
The expanded version will extend the benefit to express, LSS and Deluxe government buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. Regular-fare government buses operating in suburban, mofussil and hilly areas will also be brought under the expanded arrangement.
Vijay said easier access to public transportation would strengthen women's mobility and contribute to their economic independence and their families' well-being.
Free Bus Travel For Transgender Persons
The Chief Minister also announced free bus travel for transgender persons as part of the government's latest welfare measures.
The move is aimed at improving access to public transportation and extending the state's existing welfare support to the transgender community.
Government Drops Parandur Airport Plan
In another major announcement, Vijay reiterated that his government would not proceed with the proposed greenfield airport at Parandur near Chennai. This project has faced sustained opposition from farmers and residents in the affected areas.
Vijay said the government stood with families who could have been displaced by the proposed airport and stressed that farmers should not bear the cost of major infrastructure projects.
According to the Chief Minister, the government is now examining alternative locations for Chennai's new airport. He said it had already identified several potential sites.
Vijay said the government wants the eventual location to minimise the impact on agricultural land and avoid displacing large residential settlements.
Chennai Airport To Get New Terminal 5
Alongside the decision to reconsider the Parandur location, Vijay announced plans for a new Terminal 5 at the existing Chennai International Airport in Meenambakkam.
The move is expected to strengthen the existing airport's capacity while the government examines alternative sites for a future airport.
Taken together, the announcements mark a significant expansion of the Tamil Nadu government's welfare commitments, covering household cooking costs, women's mobility, transgender welfare and Chennai's long-term aviation infrastructure.
