The direct benefit transfer for LPG, (DBTL) scheme, will be extended to 289 districts in the country starting 2014, finance minister P Chidambaram announced after a cabinet briefing on Thursday. The scheme will reach out to 44 more districts starting October, 46 from November, 40 from December and 105 from January. FM said the scheme will lead to siginifcant savings as it will curb duplicate LPG connections and lead to more efficient use of LPG cylinders. The scheme has so far been launched in 20 districts covering 7.3 million LPG consumers. Around 3.5 million LPG consumers have linked their Aadhaar numbers to the LPG consumer numbers and their bank accounts in above 20 districts and 2.4 million consumers are receiving the subsidy directly in their bank accounts. The seeding levels of Aadhaar with bank accounts stands at around 50% in these districts and around 75% for LPG accounts. TUFS to continue in 12th Plan Meanwhile, the CCEA on Thursday approved the continuation of the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) in the 12th Plan period with a total budget outlay of R11,900 crore, out of which Rs 2,400 crore have been allocated for FY14.