NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched the expanded 'Vettri Payanam Thittam', extending free bus travel to more categories of services for women and transgender people across the state.Marking the launch on Gandhi Jayanti, Vijay travelled by bus in Chennai, interacted with passengers and personally handed out free tickets to women.In a light-hearted moment, college students travelling on the bus were also seen sharing Dairy Milk chocolates with the chief minister.

What is Vettri Payanam scheme?

The expanded scheme is expected to benefit around 84.32 lakh women every day. Beneficiaries can travel free of cost on 12,695 buses operated by seven state transport corporations, including services in the express and deluxe categories.There is no income ceiling to avail the scheme and no limit on the number of trips a beneficiary can make in a day, the state government said.The scheme, whose name is derived from the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), meaning “victorious journey”, was earlier limited to certain categories of buses. The expanded facility now covers express, deluxe, mofussil ordinary and certain Ghat-area services.

Earlier, transport minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said the scheme aims to support the education, employment, livelihoods and economic empowerment of women and transgender people by ensuring that transportation costs do not become a barrier to their progress.

He said the initiative was also aimed at promoting equality, adding that there should be no distinction in travel rights.Parthiban described the scheme as a “social revolution” that would help women become more independent, step out of their homes and contribute to the state’s growth."The launch is also meant to honour the principles of social justice and women's empowerment, to facilitate their participation in the economy and society, ensuring that transportation costs do not hinder their access to education, employment, or healthcare," the minister added.