Chennai: “In order to encourage the use of electric vehicles, 20,000 public charging stations will be set up over the next five years,” the Tamil Nadu government announced in its budget statement.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Mari Wilson presented the general budget for the current financial year (2026-27). The major announcements made in the energy sector include:
> The Udangudi Stage-1 and Ennore Special Economic Zone thermal power projects, which will provide Tamil Nadu with an additional 2,640 MW of power generation capacity, will be implemented swiftly.
> The implementation of the Vellimalai pumped-storage hydroelectric project, valued at Rs. 550 crore, will be expedited.
> To promote renewable energy, the ‘New Rooftop Solar Subsidy Scheme’ will be introduced in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. An allocation of Rs. 50 crore will be made for implementing this scheme.
> The practice of installing smart meters will be introduced for all consumers in Chennai city and for 50 lakh industrial and commercial consumers in other parts of the state.
> The Coimbatore - Ariyalur 765 kV power transmission line project will be implemented under a public-private partnership model at a cost of Rs. 4,000 crore.
> The second phase of the green energy corridor, which will carry green energy from the southern region of Tamil Nadu, valued at Rs. 1,187 crore, and the implementation of the Virudhunagar - Coimbatore 765 kV power transmission projects, valued at Rs. 1,640 crore, will be expedited.
> In order to improve power distribution, the government will undertake the construction of 128 new substations with an investment of Rs. 1,543 crore.
> At a cost of Rs. 2,000 crore, 4,000 old distribution transformers will be gradually replaced.
> In order to encourage the use of electric vehicles, 20,000 public charging stations will be set up over the next five years. For this project, an allocation of Rs. 50 crore is being made this year.
> The government will provide a subsidy for electric vehicle charging stations installed in residential complexes through apartment residents welfare associations. For this, an allocation of Rs. 5 crore is being made.• In this budget, Rs. 15,828 crore is being allocated to the Energy Department.
Key announcements made in the Housing and Urban Development Department:
> Considering the rapid expansion of the Chennai metropolitan area, the government will prepare a comprehensive master plan for the expanded Chennai metropolitan region covering an area of 5,904 square kilometers. An allocation of Rs. 25 crore will be made to implement this plan.
> An online plan approval platform equipped with artificial intelligence technology will be introduced to coordinate various departments and provide plan approval for plots and buildings. An allocation of Rs. 40 crore will be made for this purpose.
> To improve the living conditions of the urban poor, construction of 14,194 apartment units will be initiated this year. An allocation of Rs. 1,283 crore will be made for this purpose.
> A pilot scheme called the Metropolitan Youth and Family Housing Scheme will be introduced in the Chennai metropolitan area. Under this scheme, one lakh houses will be built over the next seven years.
> An allocation of Rs. 8,852 crore is being made in this budget for the Housing and Urban Development Department.
