Women will now be able to travel for free on express and deluxe buses here as well; find out who this scheme is for..

Vetri Payanam Scheme: The 'Vetri Payanam' scheme, set to be implemented across Tamil Nadu starting October 2, 2026, is expected to directly benefit approximately 84.32 lakh women daily. With the launch of this scheme, women will be able to travel for free not only on ordinary municipal buses but also on express, deluxe, and ghat-route buses.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced the expansion of the 'Vetri Payanam' free bus travel scheme to foster the economic empowerment of women and female students and to facilitate easier access to education and employment. Following a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, it was confirmed that the scheme would be rolled out across the entire state on October 2. This decision will not only provide relief on transportation costs for working women and college-going students but also significantly improve their access to healthcare services.

**Over 84 Lakh Women to Benefit**
According to government data, approximately 84.32 lakh women will avail the benefits of this expanded scheme daily. A total of 12,692 government buses—representing 69 percent of the fleet operated by state transport corporations—have been designated for this scheme. These buses will complete a total of 165,312 single trips daily, accounting for roughly 85 percent of the state's total bus operations.

**Free Travel Facility on These Buses**
Previously, this facility was limited to ordinary city and town buses, but its scope has now been significantly widened. Under the new arrangement, women can travel without a fare on express and deluxe buses within municipal corporation and municipality limits. Additionally, they will be able to travel on mofussil ordinary and ghat ordinary buses that operate over distances exceeding 40 kilometers, including long-distance and hilly routes.

Technical preparations for the smooth implementation of the scheme are in the final stages. The integration of ETM (Electronic Ticket Machine) systems across all 12,692 buses has been completed. Officials have been instructed to complete the inspection and verification of the entire system by September 25. Subsequently, a state-wide trial run will be conducted on September 27, ahead of the official launch on October 2.