CM Vijay to launch expanded free bus travel scheme for women on Oct. 2 in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Government’s expanded free bus travel scheme for women, ‘Vetri Payanam’, will come into effect from October 2, Chief Minister Vijay said on Thursday.
Announcing the scheme in the Assembly on August 24 under Rule 110, Mr. Vijay said the government sought to ensure that women did not lose opportunities because of transportation costs.
At present, women can travel free of cost in ordinary city buses operated by the seven State transport corporations and in ordinary buses operating up to 40 km in hilly areas. Under the expanded scheme, the benefit will cover Express, LSS and Deluxe services in cities and urban areas, ordinary-fare mofussil buses and ordinary-fare ghat buses operating beyond 40 km.
As many as 12,692 of the 18,413 scheduled buses operated by the seven State transport corporations will be brought under the scheme, accounting for 69% of the fleet. Of the 1,94,649 scheduled single trips, 1,65,312, or 85%, will be covered.
The Government estimates that around 84.32 lakh women will benefit from the scheme every day.
The integration of the electronic ticketing machines with the scheme has been completed. Trial and verification were conducted on September 25, followed by a trial run on September 27.
The scheme is expected to facilitate women’s travel for education, employment, medical treatment and other essential services. However, implementation in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts will begin only after the Model Code of Conduct in force for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly by-elections is withdrawn.
Mr. Vijay said in a social media post on Thursday that the expanded ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme would be implemented from October 2 for women and transgender persons across the State.