Chennai: Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, in his New Year address to the Assembly today, said the government will give Pongal gift hampers containing raw rice, sugar, raisins, cashew nuts, cardamom and sugarcane to all ration card holders along with Rs 1,000 as cash gift in all districts except Tiruvarur, where election code of conduct is in effect due to the by-poll.
Purohit begun his speech with New Year wishes in Tamil and broadly outlined the policies and programmes of the State government.
He said the government has formulated a comprehensive housing project called Tamilnadu Housing and Habitat Development Project to transform slums in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts with World Bank funding assistance.
“Similar project for areas other than Chennai has been proposed to the Asian Development Bank for assistance,” he said.
He further said the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) Act and its relevant rules will be notified on 16 January to make the integrated functioning of Multi Modal Transportation System a reality.
He also said the government will soon launch a scheme to extend financial support to NGOs for opening schools in interior tribal areas.
“To promote aerospace and defence production, the Tamilnadu Aerospace and Defence Industrial policy will be released shortly,” he added.
CMRL PROJECT TO COMMENCE SOON
Speaking about the progress in the Chennai Metro Rail project, Purohit said, “Japan International Co-operation Agency has now approved the funding of Rs 20,196 crore for the CMRL stretches between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to CMBT. Loan agreement for the first tranche of approximately Rs 4,770 crore was signed on 21 December and work will commence shortly,” he said.
BOOST FOR STARTUPS
In his address, Purohit said a new startup and innovation policy will be unveiled by this government shortly to improve startup environment.
ENVIRONMENT AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Purohit said environmental friendly electric buses will be operated in metro cities like Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai. “Government is also embarking on a comprehensive restructuring programme for transport corporations with the support of the German bilateral financing agency, KFW. This will aim to replace old fleet with new BS-VI buses,” he added.