Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the expansion of fare-free bus travel for women and transgender persons on all state buses.
The initiative aims to improve mobility and reduce transport costs for marginalized groups while providing direct economic support to women who head their households.
The transportation program, renamed 'Vetri Payanam' [4], will extend free travel to include deluxe and express buses [5]. This expansion broadens the scope of existing fare-free services to cover the state-wide bus network [1]. According to the announcement made on Monday, the scheme is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 2 [2], coinciding with Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
In addition to the transit benefits, the state will introduce a fuel subsidy program. Eligible women heads of households will receive three free LPG cylinders per year [3]. This measure is intended to alleviate the financial burden of cooking fuel for low-income families.
The announcement includes transgender persons in the expanded transit benefits [1], though some reports focus primarily on the benefits for women [2]. The combination of these two policies represents a significant increase in state spending on social welfare for women and transgender citizens.
Chief Minister Vijay said the measures are designed to empower women and transgender persons by removing barriers to movement and reducing basic living expenses [1].
“all state buses, including deluxe and express services, will be free for women and transgender passengers”
The expansion of the 'Vetri Payanam' scheme and the introduction of free LPG cylinders signal a strategic shift toward broader social welfare in Tamil Nadu. By including deluxe and express buses, the government is removing cost barriers for longer-distance travel, which may increase workforce participation and educational access for women and transgender individuals. These policies reflect a trend of using direct subsidies to mitigate inflation and transport costs for vulnerable populations.
