Tamil Nadu CM Vijay launches expanded free bus travel scheme, conducts bus himself
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.
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, according to the state government. The expanded facility now covers express, deluxe, mofussil ordinary and certain Ghat-area services, removing the earlier limitations on certain categories of buses.
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 added that the initiative was aimed at promoting equality.
