Chennai: Tamil Nadu has allocated ₹8,494 crore for the higher education sector and ₹25,000 crore for urban development in present budget being presented today (14, March).

Department-wise Allocation:
School Education: ₹46,767 crore
Higher Education: ₹8,494 crore
Urban Development: ₹25,000 crore
Youth Welfare & Sports: ₹572 crore
Labour Welfare & Skill Development: ₹1,975 crore
Health & Public Welfare: ₹21,906 crore

Key Budget Announcements:
Pudumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes to be extended to the third gender.

Infrastructure:
₹310 crore allocated for a flyover from Velachery Main Road to Gurunanak College.
Waste-to-energy power plant to be set up in Tambaram.
₹77 crore allocated for constructing 10 hostels.
₹56 crore for upgrading 880 high-tech laboratories.
₹65 crore to upgrade classrooms in 2,676 schools.

Welfare & Education:
₹600 crore for expanding the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme to urban areas.
New teachers to be appointed through the Teachers Selection Board.
₹200 crore for R&D in government universities.
Anna University to be developed as Asia's top university with ₹500 crore.
New diploma courses in drone technology to be introduced.
₹300 crore allocated for government college development.
Eight new government arts colleges to be established.
₹2,500 crore in educational loans for one lakh students in 2025-26.

Healthcare & Technology:
₹120 crore for the development of Kanchipuram Cancer Center.
Semiconductor technology parks to be set up.
Tidal Technology Park to be established in Hosur at ₹400 crore.

Other Key Allocations:
₹13,807 crore for women's welfare.
₹3,500 crore for the Dream Home Project.