Tamil Nadu chief minister and TVK supremo C Joseph Vijay on Monday made major announcements aimed at women in the state assembly, including the expansion of free bus travel scheme and three free LPG cylinders annually for households.
The free LPG cylinders, reportedly carrying an estimated annual budgetary outlay of ₹4,000 crore, will be offered to women heads of households under a scheme called ‘Annapoorani Super Six.
Chief minister C Joseph Vijay said the LPG offer under ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ is expected to benefit 1.3 crore families, adding that the scheme will be implemented from Pongal (in January).
Expanding the free bus travel initiative, Vijay said the scheme meant for women will cover state-run buses, express, as well as deluxe buses. “No riders like income ceiling or number of trips for women to avail fare-free bus travel,” said Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay in assembly.
The ‘Annapoorni Super Six scheme’
Addressing the assembly, the chief minister stated that the Annapoorni Super Six scheme will cover households with an annual income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh, economically weaker sections, families of small and marginal farmers, and families of differently-abled persons, according to news agency ANI.
The cost of the cooking gas cylinder will be reimbursed and directly credited to the bank accounts of the female heads of families upon booking and delivery based on the official billing from oil marketing companies.
Chennai’s 2nd airport plan dropped, for now
The chief minister also announced that his government would drop the plan to establish Chennai’s second airport at Parandur, saying the project would affect agricultural land and disrupt the livelihoods of farmers and residents.
Speaking in the assembly, Vijay said Chennai’s Meenambakkam airport, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), currently has the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually. He said a new airport was needed considering the city’s growing requirements, industrial development and increasing cargo transportation.
However, the chief minister said the new airport should be located at a place where agricultural land and residential areas are minimally affected, ANI news agency reported.
