Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday gave its nod for the first Supplementary Estimates of over ₹3,795 crore for the current financial year, moved by the government primarily to meet funds required for strengthening transportation infrastructure and implementing flood mitigation works in and around Chennai.

Of the total budget, nearly 38% has been sanctioned for creating assets for transport corporations, settling dues, constructing a new bus terminus on Chennai’s outskirts, and upgrading urban roads.

Tamil Nadu Highways Department, which was struggling to pay compensation to owners from whom land was acquired for the Chennai Outer Ring Road Project, can now heave a sigh of relief with the supplementary budget, presented by Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, sanctioning ₹369 crore towards this expenditure.

In his speech, PTR said that ₹168 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a new mofussil bus terminus at Kuthambakkam near Thirumazhisai in Thiruvallur District. Though this project, which aimed to decongest bus operations in the city, was proposed a few years ago, not much progress was reported due to a fund crunch.

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is now optimistic that delays can be avoided, and the project can be opened for public use next year. Once completed, this will be the third major bus terminus in the city’s suburbs following Kilambakkam and Madhavaram.

Besides this, the finance minister has sanctioned funds to implement a breakfast scheme for school children, procure equipment for new government medical colleges, establish 28 schools of excellence, and rehabilitate irrigation structures in western Tamil Nadu.