Tamil Nadu Expands Free Bus Travel for Women Across 12,692 Government Buses
Chennai, Oct 1: Women across Tamil Nadu will have access to free travel on a much wider network of government buses from October 2, as Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launches the expanded ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme on Gandhi Jayanti.
The expanded programme will take the existing free-travel facility beyond ordinary city and town buses, bringing several additional categories of government services under the scheme. The move is expected to make daily commuting easier for women travelling for work, education, healthcare and other essential needs.
Under the expanded scheme, free travel will be available on Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS) and Deluxe buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. The facility will also cover Mofussil Ordinary buses and Ghat Ordinary buses operating on hill routes beyond 40 km.
12,692 Buses to Be Covered
A total of 12,692 government buses operated by seven State Transport Corporations will come under the expanded scheme. These buses account for around 69 per cent of the state’s scheduled fleet and are expected to operate about 1.65 lakh single trips every day.
The government estimates that around 84.32 lakh women could benefit from the scheme every day. There is no income ceiling or limit on the number of journeys for eligible beneficiaries, according to reports on the programme.
Making Everyday Travel Easier
The expansion is aimed at helping women travel more easily across the state without having to choose a bus service based on the fare. Students travelling to colleges, working women commuting to workplaces and those travelling for medical treatment or other essential services are among the groups expected to benefit.
The designated buses have also been integrated with Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) as part of preparations for the rollout.
The scheme will also provide free travel to transgender passengers on the designated services, according to reports.
With the expanded Vettri Payanam scheme coming into effect on October 2, Tamil Nadu is widening the reach of its fare-free public transport facility and bringing more government bus services within its coverage.
The initiative is expected to make everyday mobility more accessible for millions of women across urban, suburban and other parts of the state.