CHENNAI: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday inaugurated new bus services operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations at the Secretariat.He flagged off 130 low-floor electric buses worth Rs 234.5 crore and 120 other buses worth Rs 55.8 crore for public use.The red-coloured Switch EV MTC buses are powered by Ashok Leyland and are part of Tamil Nadu’s broader green mobility programme.The CM boarded one of the buses and inspected its amenities.Earlier on Monday, CM Vijay announced the expansion of the fare-free bus travel scheme for women, making services such as deluxe and express buses free for beneficiaries.Making several announcements in the Assembly, Vijay, fulfilling TVK’s key electoral assurances, announced three free cooking gas cylinders and also declared that the Parandur greenfield airport project will be shelved.The project had been strongly opposed by farmers who did not wish to part with their farm lands.“There will be no riders like income ceiling or number of trips for women to avail fare-free bus travel – Vettri Payanam,” Vijay said, making a statement under Rule 110.Women can also travel free of charge on Express, LSS and Deluxe government buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas, as well as on regular fare buses in suburban (Mofussil) and hilly areas.The scheme will be rolled out on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanthi. Vijay said the move will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 6,000 crore per annum for the state government.On the Annapoorani Super Six scheme, a major welfare promise made by Vijay in the run-up to the April Assembly election, assuring six free LPG cylinders to every eligible family in Tamil Nadu every year to reduce household living expenses, the Chief Minister said three free cooking gas cylinders will initially be provided, with the amount credited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.“This will reduce the burden of the people who have been spending extra amount to obtain the cylinders. The government has decided to provide the cost of the cooking gas cylinders. Three free LPG cylinders will be given in the first phase and the price for cylinders will be directly credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries,” Vijay said, amidst loud thumping of tables by the Treasury.The move will benefit 1,30,16,104 families with an annual income of nearly Rs 2.5 lakh, economically backward families, small and medium farmers, differently abled people and poor families.“The preparatory work has commenced and the scheme will be launched this Pongal (mid-January) 2027 festival,” Vijay said and added the state government will allocate Rs 4,000 crore per annum for this initiative.(With Agency Inputs)
