The Tamil Nadu government will procure only air-conditioned buses from now on, Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthipan said, as Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay directed that all new government buses must have air-conditioning facilities, conveying the Chief Minister’s decision.
“From now on, the public in Tamil Nadu will have to travel in air-conditioned buses. Accordingly, the Chief Minister wants all new government buses to be procured henceforth to have air-conditioning facilities,” Parthiban said as reported by Puthiya Thalaimurai.
The minister also said that the Prime Minister wants to connect every remote district of Tamil Nadu through a robust bus network, The Hindu reported.
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CM Vijay’s latest initiatives
The announcement comes days after Chief Minister Vijay led the state government’s anti-drug marathon, ‘Start Running, Stop Drugs’, along Kamarajar Salai in Chennai near Marina Beach.
The 52-year-old Chief Minister covered the entire 3-km route along with Ministers Aadhav Arjuna, P Venkataramanan and Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar. Ahead of the marathon, Vijay issued an anti-drug pledge, urging participants to spread awareness about the harmful effects of drugs among their families and friends.
He also signed a banner with the Tamil message “Sports Edu, Drugs Vidu” (Do sports, quit drugs). The event was organized by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
The Prime Minister recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed matters related to the state, including the Mekedatu Dam issue, arrests of fishermen, and the row over the Tamil memorial song.
In addition, Vijay also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and handed over a memorandum to prioritize funding for ports, national highways, railway projects and industrial corridors that are essential for the development of Tamil Nadu.
This was Vijay’s first official visit to the national capital after assuming office. His meeting with the Prime Minister and Sitharaman comes days after his party TVK registered a surprise victory in the April 23 Assembly elections, defeating Dravidian heavyweights DMK and AIADMK and forming his government with the support of allies including the VCK.
(With inputs from PTI)
