Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 5,110 crore in pending central funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) without conditions. Vijay raised the demand during Modi’s visit to Chennai on October 11, alongside requests for new Metro projects, high-speed rail corridors, highway upgrades and a river-linking project.
The demands cover education, transport, water management and language policy. The request for education funds comes amid a disagreement between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the implementation of the PM-SHRI schools scheme, which is linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Vijay also called for faster approval of infrastructure projects intended to improve connectivity across the state.
Complete list of demands made by Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to PM Modi
Vijay placed several requests before the Prime Minister during the Chennai event. Here are the key demands raised by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
1. Release Rs 5,110 crore in pending education funds
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay asked the Centre to release the Rs 5,110 crore pending under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan without imposing conditions on Tamil Nadu.
2. Approve Chennai Metro Phase III
The Chief Minister sought early approval for the third phase of Chennai Metro Rail to expand public transport connectivity across the metropolitan area.
3. Reconsider Metro projects for Coimbatore and Madurai
CM Vijay requested the Centre to reconsider the proposed Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, citing their importance to the future development and economic growth of western and southern Tamil Nadu.
4. Support the Hosur-Bommasandra Metro link
He sought support for an interstate Metro corridor connecting Hosur in Tamil Nadu with Bommasandra in Karnataka. The proposed link would connect industrial areas across the two states.
5. Prioritise the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project
TN CM Vijay called on the Centre to prioritise the Godavari-Cauvery river-linking project and take it up as a national project. The proposal is linked to the broader objective of improving water availability across the region.
6. Give priority to seven major infrastructure projects
TN Chief Minister sought priority approval for highway and rail infrastructure projects, including the following.
- Six-laning of the Chengalpattu-Tiruchirappalli stretch on National Highway 32.
- Six-laning of the Tiruchirappalli-Panjappur-Jayapuram-Karur stretch on National Highway 81.
- Six-laning of the Karur-Coimbatore stretch.
- An elevated corridor between Madhavaram and Sholavaram on National Highway 87.
- A high-speed rail corridor connecting Chennai and Kanniyakumari.
- A high-speed rail corridor connecting Chennai and Coimbatore.
- Reconsideration of the proposed Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai.
7. Make Tamil the principal language in Madras High Court proceedings
Vijay also requested approval for the use of Tamil as the principal language in proceedings of the Madras High Court. The request relates to a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly that had been sent for presidential assent.
8. Support Tamil Nadu's wider development plans
Vijay thanked Modi for the Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Hyderabad high-speed rail corridors announced in the 2026 Union Budget. He also spoke about the state government's aim of making Tamil Nadu a $1.5 trillion economy by 2036, with development reaching districts beyond Chennai.
The demands came during the Prime Minister's visit, when projects worth more than Rs 13,000 crore were launched or inaugurated across Tamil Nadu. Modi also inaugurated the 15-km Poonamallee Bypass-Vadapalani stretch of Chennai Metro Phase II, built at a cost of around Rs 4,900 crore, and took a train ride with Vijay.
What did Vijay mean by releasing Rs 5,110 crore 'without conditions'?
The word “without conditions” is central to the education funding dispute. Vijay wants the Centre to release the money due to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan without making the payment dependent on the state's participation in another education scheme.
Samagra Shiksha is a centrally sponsored programme that supports school education, from pre-primary classes to Class 12. It covers areas such as access to education, school infrastructure, teacher support and improvements in learning. The scheme is funded by the Centre and state governments according to the applicable funding arrangement.
Why are the Samagra Shiksha funds pending?
The disagreement centres on the PM Schools for Rising India, or PM-SHRI, scheme. The programme aims to develop selected schools as model institutions and is aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.
The Centre has linked the release of Samagra Shiksha funds to Tamil Nadu signing an agreement to implement PM-SHRI schools. Tamil Nadu, however, has opposed the arrangement amid its wider disagreement with the NEP, particularly over its three-language formula.
The state follows a two-language policy centred on Tamil and English. Its position has been that it should not have to change its language policy or agree to a separate scheme to receive funds due under an existing school education programme.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay wants the Rs 5,110 crore released without additional conditions linked to the state's education policy.
Vijay raised the demand directly with Modi during the Prime Minister's visit to Chennai.
The Prime Minister, meanwhile, said the Centre would work with Vijay to take Tamil Nadu's development forward. “Together with CM Joseph Vijay, we will take Tamil Nadu’s journey of development forward. Together, let us create a developed India through a developed Tamil Nadu,” he said.
(Inputs from TOI)