Chennai, Mar 14 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin-led DMK regime on Friday presented its Budget 2025-26 in the Assembly, a full-fledged exercise ahead of the state election next year, and made big allocations for its flagship welfare schemes which include the fare-free bus travel scheme for women.

Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Assembly as the main opposition AIADMK walked out after attempting to raise alleged graft in state-run liquor corporation TASMAC vis-a-vis the Enforcement Directorate searches over the Rs 1,000 crore 'scam'. Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters that his party asked the DMK government to own up moral responsibility for the TASMAC 'scam' and "tender resignation," and staged a walkout on the issue.

Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu said women using fare-free bus services has risen to 65 per cent from 40 per cent. "On an average, 50 lakh women travel daily in the buses run by State Transport Undertakings, leading to a total of 642 crore trips so far. Notably, a study by the State Planning Commission revealed that women save an average of Rs 888 per month due to this initiative. For the year 2025-26, the government has allocated a subsidy of Rs 3,600 crore for the scheme in the Budget Estimates," he said.

Thennarasu announced a new airport at Rameswarm and said work has been expedited to establish a new airport at Parandur near Chennai. Also, he said a satellite city would come up near the state capital with world class amenities.

The minister's budget speech went on for 2 hours and 38 minutes.

On the "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam" of Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for 1.15 crore women, he said Rs 13,807 crore has been allocated and announced that women, who are eligible but have not yet received the assistance, will soon get opportunity to apply. He announced 10 more 'Thozhi' working women’s hostels at a cost of Rs 77 crore; already 13 hostels are functioning. The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme will be further expanded and Rs 600 crore has been allocated.

Further, the minister said that under the 'Samagra Shiksha' scheme, the state government has been successfully implemented various student welfare schemes for the past seven years.

"Notably, initiatives such as the Ennum Ezhuthum Thittam to ensure foundational literacy, special education for differently-abled children, transport allowances for students from remote areas, salary for teachers, guidance for higher education to shape students' future, art festivals to nurture unique talents, educational tours and infrastructure development, including internet facilities in schools, are in progress".

However, the union government has withheld the approved amount of Rs 2,152 crore to Tamil Nadu, citing the State's non-acceptance of the Centre's National Education Policy, which includes the three-language policy. Despite this, keeping in mind the welfare of students, the state government has allocated funds, including salaries of teachers, from its own resources to ensure that the education of government school students remains unaffected, even in the slightest way, he said.

"Even at this critical juncture, the people of Tamil Nadu have wholeheartedly rallied behind the chief minister for upholding the dignity of the State by standing firm on the bilingual policy, even at the cost of foregoing two thousand crore rupees," the minister said.

A sum of Rs 3,500 crore for one lakh new houses under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme, Rs 2,200 crore for the CM's Rural Roads Development Scheme, Rs 88 crore for 'sponge parks' in Chennai, which will help groundwater recharge and fight against flooding, were among the allocations.

Detailed project reports for the metro rail projects on the Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road routes in Coimbatore, estimated at Rs 10,740 crore, and for the Thirumangalam–Othakadai corridor in Madurai, estimated at Rs 11,368 crore, have been submitted for equity contribution from the union government. Construction work in both the cities will commence as soon as the approval is granted.

To transform the Coimbatore region, known for its excellence in engineering and foundry industries, into a modern industrial hub, semiconductor manufacturing parks will be established in Sulur, Coimbatore, spanning 100 acres, and near Palladam, covering an extent of 100 acres, Thennarasu announced. PTI JSP VGN SA

TASMAC graft allegations prompt opposition to demand government accountability amid state budget and withheld central education funds. Allegations of corruption linked to the state run liquor distributor led the opposition to demand government accountability amid Enforcement Directorate searches; the Budget prioritises welfare and infrastructure with large allocations for a women's fare free bus subsidy, direct monthly assistance to women, expansion of hostels and student welfare programmes, new airport and metro projects seeking central equity support, housing and rural road schemes, semiconductor parks for industrial development, and a state commitment to fund education programmes despite withholding of central education grants over disagreement on the national education policy.