Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay announced a slew of welfare initiatives on Monday — allocating free LPG cylinders and expanding a bus travel scheme. Both promises had been enshrined in the election manifesto of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ahead of its landslide victory. Vijay also declared that the Parandur greenfield airport project will be shelved. 

“Under the Annapooranai Super Six scheme, free cylinders will be provided to every household in Tamil Nadu from Pongal onwards, starting January 14. The Tamil Nadu government will credit the amount for three cylinders directly to consumers’ bank accounts,” he told the state Assembly. 

The cost of these cooking gas cylinders will be credited to the bank accounts of the female heads of families upon booking and delivery based on the official billing from oil marketing companies. The TVK chief also outlined plans to expand a free bus travel scheme for women — incurring a combined expenditure of around Rs 10,000 crore. 

Free bus travel for women

The Tamil Nadu government announced Vetri Payanam on Monday morning — an expansion of the free bus travel scheme for women. It will allow transit using all Express, LSS, and Deluxe government buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. Women can avail  free travel on ordinary-fare buses in rural and hilly areas while moving between districts. 

“There will be no riders like income ceiling or number of trips for women to avail fare-free bus travel – Vettri Payanam,” Vijay added while making a statement under Rule 110.

The scheme will come into effect from October 2, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. According to the Chief Minister, the move will entail the state government an additional expenditure of Rs 6,000 crore per annum.

Free LPG cylinders

Vijay also announced plans to provide free LPG gas cylinders to every household in Tamil Nadu from Pongal. The Annapooranai Super Six scheme will come into effect starting January 14 next year.

“The Tamil Nadu government will credit the amount for three cylinders directly to consumers’ bank accounts,” he told the state Assembly. 

The CM added that around 1.3 crore families were expected to benefit from this scheme. Approximately Rs. 4,000 crore will be allocated for this initiative every year. Vijay also noted that global supply disruptions and price escalations had imposed a severe financial burden on households in recent months — pushing many families toward alternative fuels.

“Families with an annual income below Rs. 2.5 lakh, small and marginal farmer families, differently-abled families and other vulnerable sections will benefit from the scheme…even in a situation of financial constraint, our government has decided to provide the amount spent on gas cylinders to the public, aiming to reduce their financial burden, protect their welfare, and fulfil the promise made to them. Therefore, to benefit female heads of families, in the first phase, three free gas cylinders will be provided annually under the ‘Annapoorani Super 6’ scheme,” he added.

Plans for a  $1.5 trillion state economy

The Vijay government had issued a blueprint dubbed ‘Vetri Tamizhagam Vision Document’ during its first cabinet meeting in June 2026. The missive outlined hundreds of vision statements across 35 state departments to fulfil promises made during the Tamil Nadu election campaign. The CM noted on Monday that several targeted schemes — including the ‘Singa Pen’ special task force, ‘Thaimaman Thangamothiram’, ‘Vetri Magalir Adugal Valarppu’, and ‘Annanin Seer’ — have already been allocated necessary budgetary funds. 

The administration has committed to a $1.5 trillion state economy by 2036 — working to roughly triple the size of the economy over the next 10 years. A PTI report quoted Finance Minister N Marie Wilson as noting earlier this month that the new government had inherited a treasury overburdened with debt and sub-optimal income with leaking holes. The official added on August 5 that the administration had “created at least Rs 1,500 crore on the revenue side so far”. He warned that the state would need “at least two years to bring the financial administration back to the track of fiscal prudence.” 

“We will also constitute a similar high-level Expenditure Reforms Committee to advise the state government on rationalising expenditure by enhancing the productivity of the service delivery apparatus of the State and reviewing all welfare schemes by evaluating their positive impact on the target beneficiary groups and ensuring that all people who need State intervention truly benefit,” he had added.