Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan presented the Budget for the state today (20 March). Here are some of the major announcements-

• Tamil Nadu Tech Cities to come up in Chennai, Coimbatore and Hosur.

• Rs 9000 crore estimated for Coimbatore Metro between Avinashi Road and Sathyamangalam Road. Rs 8500 crore for Madurai Metro between Thirumangalam and Othakadai.

• Startup Mission for woman entrepreneurs to be launched.

• A flyover to be built between Teynampet and Saidapet in Chennai at a cost of Rs 621 crore.

• Target to double the installed power generation capacity by 2030 and increase the share of green energy to 50 per cent.

• The Rs 1000 for women heads of family scheme will be launched on the occasion of former chief minister CN Annadurai's birthday (15 September)

• Ezhilmigu Coimbatore and Ma Madurai programme for planned development of the two cities.

• Integrated development of North Chennai to be taken up under the 'Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam' at a cost of Rs 1000 crore over the next three years.

• Special Purpose Vehicle to be set up to identify new railway projects in the state.

• A wildlife sanctuary to be set up in Erode District and an International Bird Centre to be set up in Marakkanam of Villupuram district.

• New SIPCOT industrial parks to come up in Virudhunagar, Vellore, Kallakurichi and Coimbatore.

• New Tourism Policy to be released.

• The bus depots at Vadapalani, Tiruvanmiyur and Vyasarpadi will be developed with an investment of Rs 1600 crore in the first phase while the bus depots at Tambaram, Tiruvottriyur and Saidapet will be upgraded in the second phase.

• Rs 100 crore allotted for Global Investors Summit

• A global sports hub to be developed in Chennai by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA).

• All schools under departments like Backward Classes (BC), Most Backward Classes (MBC) welfare, Adi Dravidar Welfare department and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department will be brought under the School Education department.

• 1000-bed Karunanidhi Memorial Hospital in Guindy to be completed by end of the year.

• An International Tamil Computing Conference would be held to increase the use of Tamil in computing.

• A Chola Museum will be set up in Thanjavur.

• Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme to be extended to all government schools. Rs 500 crore allotted.