Tamil NaduSunday, 4 October 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu expands free bus travel as Vettri Payanam covers 84.32 lakh beneficiaries daily
Tamil Nadu launched Vettri Payanam on October 2, 2026, expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons across 12,695 buses.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On October 2, 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the Vettri Payanam scheme at the Koyambedu bus terminus in Chennai, expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons.
Key specifics
- The scheme will reach 84.32 lakh beneficiaries every day.
- It is an expansion of the five-year-old Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme.
- 12,695 buses under 7 State Transport Corporations have been brought under the scheme.
- Women can travel free in Ordinary, Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe buses in cities and towns.
- The launch was made on Gandhi Jayanthi, and the expansion was announced earlier on August 24 under Rule No. 110 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Exam lens
TNPSC polity-and-schemes question type: identify the scheme, launch date, beneficiary count, and transport coverage; remember Koyambedu, Chennai, 84.32 lakh daily beneficiaries, and 12,695 buses.