Highlights | Tamil Nadu Budget 2025: Airport in Ramanathapuram, 2,000-acre global city near Chennai among key announcements

Women, who are eligible but have not yet received Rs 1,000 per month assistance, will soon get opportunity to apply: TN Fin Minister.

Ring Main Pipeline Project

Greater Chennai Corporation receives drinking water from five water treatment plants and three seawater desalination plants. Each plant is designed to supply specific areas of the city through separate main pipelines.

Thus, when required, surplus water from one area cannot be diverted to another area where there is a shortage.

To address this issue, a new project, ‘Ring Main Pipeline Project’, will be 19 implemented for connecting all the water distribution stations to ensure equitable distribution of water supply to all the water distribution stations in Chennai city.

This project will be implemented over the next three years at an estimated cost of Rs.2,423 crore to ensure balanced water supply.

Adyar River Restoration and Beautification Project

The project has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.1,500 crore in collaboration with private partners.

The first phase of this project, scheduled for completion within 30 months, will prioritize the works between Saidapet and Thiru.Vi.Ka. Bridge, with these tasks expected to be completed within 15 months.

Additionally, seven climate-resilient Sponge Parks will be set up across Greater Chennai Corporation areas at an estimated cost of Rs.88 crore.

6,483 km roads to be upgraded

In the year 2025-26, roads measuring a length of 6,483 km in all Corporations, Municipalities and Town Panchayats in Tamil Nadu will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs.3,750 crore by converging various funds.

Under this scheme, in particular, roads to an extent of 570 km will be taken up at a cost of Rs.486 crore in Greater Chennai Corporation, Rs.200 crore in Coimbatore Corporation and Rs.130 crore in Madurai Corporation.

'Vidiyal' bus travel scheme

-TN Budget allots Rs 3,600 crore as subsidy for fare-free 'Vidiyal' bus travel scheme for women.

-Woman beneficiary under fare-free bus travel scheme saves, on an average, Rs 888 per month, says Minister Thangam Thenarasu.

-Under fare-free 'Vidiyal' bus travel scheme, on daily average basis, 50 lakh women utilise services: TN Budget.

-Women using fare-free bus services has risen to 65 per cent from 40 per cent, says Minister Thangam Thenarasu in Budget speech.

Mudhalvarin Grama Salaigal Membattu Thittam

Under the ‘Mudhalvarin Grama Salaigal Membattu Thittam’ (MGSMT) scheme, which was introduced with the aim of creating quality road facilities to reach even the remotest hamlets of Tamil Nadu, a length of 6,100 kilometers of rural roads will be improved at a cost of Rs.2,200 crore in 2025-26.

Further, for the continuous maintenance of village panchayat and panchayat union roads, funds from the State Finance Commission Grants will be allocated and a sum of Rs.120 crore will be released in the year 2025-26.

Indus Valley Cultural Gallery

An ‘Indus Valley Cultural Gallery’ will be established at the Egmore Museum in Chennai to commemorate the centenary of the Indus Valley Civilization discovery.

Moreover, with a view to showcasing the uniqueness of antiquity and continuity of Tamil heritage to tourists visiting Tamil Nadu from other states and around the world, Tamil Cultural Museums will be created in Mamallapuram and Thiruvannamalai.

Chennai Egmore Museum

The Egmore Museum houses over two thousand bronze statues, meticulously crafted from Aimpon (an alloy of five metals) by the great master artisans of the past.

To showcase these sculptural masterpieces that are renowned for their serene expressions, elegant postures, and intricate mudras, a gallery with traditional architectural design will be constructed within the museum complex at an estimated cost of Rs.40 crore, ensuring an immersive experience that will captivate the international visitors.

Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam

The Government is implementing the ‘Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam’ to promote balanced growth in Chennai.

As part of this initiative, various development projects including the construction of a bus stand, provision of housing facilities, enhancement of drinking water, educational, and medical infrastructure, improvement of lakes, ponds, and beaches, establishment of a fish market, gym, parks, sports facilities, construction

of electric crematoria, upgradation of electricity substations and transformers, setting up of polytechnic 22 colleges and provision of skill development training are

being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs.6,858 crore.

In the Budget Estimates, a sum of Rs 26,678 crore has been allocated for the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department.