Politics · India Bureau
Tamil Nadu expands free bus scheme for women across state services
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday expanded the 'Vettri Payanam' initiative, extending zero-fare bus travel for women to express and deluxe services statewide. The move aims to remove transport barriers to economic and social participation for the state's female population.
LSN India ·
The expanded scheme was formally launched at Koyambedu Bus Terminus in Chennai on Friday, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. Chief Minister Vijay issued zero-fare tickets to women passengers to mark the occasion, signalling the government's commitment to eliminating transport costs as a deterrent to women's mobility and participation in public life.
Originally announced under Rule 110 in the state Assembly on August 24, the 'Vettri Payanam' scheme previously limited free travel to ordinary city and town buses, with a 40 km cap for services in hilly regions. The expanded version now encompasses Express, Limited Stop Services, Deluxe, Suburban Ordinary (Mofussil Ordinary), and Ghat Ordinary services, removing distance and service-type restrictions.
The enlarged initiative will operate across Tamil Nadu's seven State Transport Corporations, deploying 12,695 buses to run 1,68,500 single trips daily. Officials estimate the scheme will benefit approximately 84.32 lakh women passengers across the state, making it one of India's most extensive subsidised transport programmes for women.