Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Vijay Expands Free Buses, LPG Aid, Shelves Parandur Airport
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced several welfare measures.
Women will be able to ride free on more types of government buses.
There will be no income limit or trip limit for this bus benefit.
The expanded program will begin on October 2.
Eligible families will initially receive money for three cooking gas cylinders each year.
The money will be sent directly to their bank accounts.
The Parandur airport site will be abandoned after farmers opposed losing land and homes.
The government says it will study another location for Chennai’s second airport.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded fare-free bus travel for women to express, LSS, deluxe, suburban, and hilly-area services.
The Vettri Payanam scheme will have no income ceiling or trip limit and will begin on October 2.
The government will initially provide three free LPG cylinders annually, with payments sent directly to eligible beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
The Annapoorani Super Six scheme is expected to launch around Pongal in mid-January 2027, with an annual allocation of Rs 4,000 crore.
Vijay said the Parandur greenfield airport project would be abandoned after farmer opposition, while an alternative site would be studied.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, women bus passengers, eligible families, farmers and villagers, and opposition DMK representatives.
- What
- Vijay announced expanded fare-free bus travel for women, three free LPG cylinders for eligible families, and the abandonment of the Parandur greenfield airport site.
- When
- The announcements were made on Monday, August 24; the bus expansion is scheduled for October 2, and the LPG scheme for Pongal in mid-January 2027.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu; the bus benefit covers metropolitan, urban, suburban, and hilly areas, while the airport project concerns Parandur in Kancheepuram district.
- Why
- The welfare measures were presented as electoral assurances, while the airport site was abandoned after farmer opposition and stated concerns about wetlands, waterbodies, flooding, and runway safety.
Government and Farmer Concerns
Opposition Criticism
Parandur airport relocation
Government and Farmer Concerns
Vijay said the project should be abandoned because farmers and villagers opposed losing agricultural land and homes. He also said wetlands and waterbodies made runway operations unsafe and increased flooding risks.
Opposition Criticism
The opposition DMK protested the announcement and said relocating the project would cause adverse economic damage to Tamil Nadu.
- Bus scheme
- Vettri Payanam
- Bus coverage
- Express, LSS, deluxe, suburban, and hilly-area government buses
- Bus launch
- October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti
- Additional annual bus cost
- Rs 6,000 crore
- Initial LPG benefit
- Three free cooking gas cylinders per eligible family annually
- Potential LPG beneficiaries
- 1,30,16,104 families
- LPG launch and allocation
- Pongal in mid-January 2027; Rs 4,000 crore annually
- Parandur decision
- The site will be abandoned and an alternative location selected after technical feasibility studies
Sources
Free buses for women, 3 LPG cylinders: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay announces big welfare push
Vijay shelves Parandur airport; announces more free LPGs, bus travel for women
Vijay Announces Free Bus Travel, 3 LPG Cylinders, Airport U-Turn
TN CM Vijay announces more free buses for women; 3- free cooking gas cylinders