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Free 'Vetri Payanam' for Women: Guidelines Released! Which Buses Are Included?
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News18•02-10-2026, 07:41
Free 'Vetri Payanam' for Women: Guidelines Released! Which Buses Are Included?
- •Tamil Nadu Transport Department releases SOP and guidelines for free bus travel for women under the "Vetri Payanam" scheme.
- •Women, girls, and transgender passengers can travel free on Metropolitan/Urban Ordinary, Express, L.S.S., Deluxe, Suburban Ordinary, and Hill Area Ordinary services.
- •A mandatory "ZERO Ticket" must be issued for every eligible journey; pre-printed/manual tickets to be used if ETM malfunctions.
- •Drivers, conductors, and officials will be trained on passenger service, complaint handling, and "ZERO Ticket" issuance procedures.
- •Buses must operate on schedule, avoid congestion, and address complaints promptly to ensure smooth scheme implementation.
Key Questions Answered
Under the Vetri Payanam scheme, eligible passengers can travel free of charge on Metropolitan and Urban Ordinary, Express, L.S.S., Deluxe, Suburban Ordinary, and Hill Area Ordinary services, as well as Mofussil Ordinary and Ghat Ordinary buses travelling beyond 40 kilometres.
No, there is no income ceiling required to benefit from the scheme, and there is also no restriction on the number of journeys a passenger can take.
No fare should be collected from women and transgender passengers, and a compulsory ZERO Ticket must be issued for every eligible journey. If an electronic ticketing machine malfunctions, a manual ZERO Ticket must be issued instead.
