CM Vijay Unveils Annapoorani Super Six Free LPG Scheme, Expands Vettri Payanam Free Bus Travel for Women

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a set of welfare measures in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on August 24, part of a package reported to be worth close to ₹10,000 crore, covering a new free cooking gas scheme and an expansion of the government's free bus travel programme for women.

Under the "Annapoorani Super Six" scheme, eligible families will receive the cash value equivalent to three free LPG cylinders every year, credited directly to their bank accounts after they purchase and receive the cylinders. The government estimates the scheme will cover about 1.3 crore families at an annual cost of roughly ₹4,000 crore, with eligibility set at an annual household income of up to ₹2.5 lakh, alongside specified small and marginal farming families and families with persons with disabilities. The scheme is set to begin around the Pongal festival in January 2027.

The "Vettri Payanam" free bus travel scheme for women will be expanded from October 2, 2026, to cover Express, Limited Stop Service and Deluxe government buses in metropolitan and urban centres, in addition to ordinary buses operating in mofussil and hill areas, with no income eligibility cap or limit on the number of journeys.

The chief minister also referred to several other initiatives during his address, including the "Singa Pen" special task force, "Thaimaan Thangamothiram", "Vetri Magalir Adugal Valarppu" and "Annanin Seer" schemes, without going into further detail on each.