Free bus travel for women in Tamil Nadu extended to deluxe, mofussil buses from Oct 2
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday announced the expansion of the Vettri Payanam scheme, which provides free bus travel for women, to include express, LSS, and deluxe buses. The expanded facility will come into effect on October 2, which is observed as Gandhi Jayanti.
Making a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said women were currently allowed to travel free only on ordinary buses in cities and municipal areas, and in hill areas for up to 40 km. The change will now allow free travel on mofussil buses that operate between districts, as well as on deluxe and express services.
“There is no income ceiling or other restriction to avail of the scheme. This will enable girl students to travel to colleges in faraway places and women to travel across the State. Transgender persons can also make use of the scheme,” he said.
The scheme, earlier known as Vidiyal Payanam, has been renamed Vettri Payanam. The expansion will cost approximately ₹6,000 crore a year, the Chief Minister said.
Under the existing scheme, women and transgender persons could travel free only in ordinary city buses and on hill routes up to 40 km. Ordinary buses typically operate within a city or town, while express and deluxe buses are used for longer inter-city routes and have higher fares. LSS, or Limited Stop Service, buses make fewer stops and are often preferred for longer commutes. Mofussil buses connect district headquarters and smaller towns, playing an important role in rural connectivity.
The inclusion of these categories is expected to significantly improve mobility for women, especially those who travel long distances for education, employment, or healthcare. With no income ceiling, the benefit is available to all women, regardless of economic background.
The announcement was made in the form of a suo motu statement by the Chief Minister, meaning it was made on his own initiative rather than in response to a question. The government is expected to issue detailed guidelines and update ticketing systems in the coming weeks.
The Vettri Payanam scheme is one of the welfare measures of the Tamil Nadu government aimed at supporting women’s access to public services. The scheme is named after a Tamil term that signifies victory, reflecting the government’s stated vision of empowering women through easier access to transport.
The effective date of October 2 aligns with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, which holds significance as a day focused on social welfare and equality.
The additional financial burden of ₹6,000 crore per year will be borne by the state government. The previous version of the scheme was already in operation for ordinary buses, and this expansion extends the benefit to a wider range of services.
Transport authorities in Tamil Nadu operate a vast network of buses serving both urban and rural areas. With this expansion, women and transgender persons will be able to use free travel on all government-run bus services across the state, including express, LSS, deluxe, and mofussil categories.
The move is seen as a step towards gender-equitable public transport. By removing fare barriers on faster and more comfortable services, the government hopes to encourage more women to pursue opportunities beyond their immediate neighbourhoods.
The government is expected to issue detailed instructions to the state transport corporations in the coming weeks to ensure smooth implementation of the expanded scheme.
