Stories
TN CM Reviews 'Vetri Payanam' Free Bus Scheme Expansion for Women
N
News18•21-09-2026, 14:00
TN CM Reviews 'Vetri Payanam' Free Bus Scheme Expansion for Women
- •Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay reviewed preparations for 'Vetri Payanam', an expanded free bus travel scheme for women, set to launch statewide on October 2.
- •The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 84.32 lakh women daily, offering fare-free commutes on 12,692 designated government buses.
- •The scheme now includes Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe buses within corporation/municipal limits, plus Mofussil Ordinary and Ghat Ordinary buses for longer distances.
- •Designated vehicles represent 69% of the total fleet operated by seven State Transport Corporations, performing 1,65,312 single trips daily (85% of total state bus operations).
- •Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM) integration is complete, with system testing by September 25 and a trial run on September 27; the scheme aims to remove transport cost barriers for women's employment and education.
Key Questions Answered
Tamil Nadu's expanded free bus travel scheme for women is named 'Vetri Payanam' and is scheduled for a statewide launch on October 2.
The flagship initiative is projected to benefit an estimated 84.32 lakh women daily across designated government buses.
The expanded scheme covers Express, Limited Stop Service, and Deluxe buses within municipal limits, as well as Mofussil Ordinary and Ghat Ordinary buses traveling beyond 40 kilometres.
