The story so far: On Friday (October 2, 2026), coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the Vettri Payanam scheme in Chennai as part of a Statewide rollout of a policy to allow “no-fare” travel for women on all public bus services operated by transport corporations, subject to certain conditions. Women across Tamil Nadu, except in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts (due to bypolls in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies), will be able to utilise these services, effective from Friday.

It is an expansion of the five-year-old Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme empowering women to undertake trips in more bus services. Under the expanded scheme, women will be allowed to undertake “no-fare” travel on board Ordinary, Express, LSS (Limited Stop Service), and Deluxe bus services in cities and towns; Ordinary services in mofussil areas; and Ordinary services in Ghat sections beyond 40 km. In all, 12,695 (about 69%) of the 18,413 buses operated by the seven State transport corporations will be covered. An estimated 84.32 lakh women are expected to benefit daily with an estimated trips of 1,68,500 singles per day. The expanded scheme is expected to cost the State government approximately ₹6,000 crore a year.