Tamil Nadu Vettri Payanam Scheme 2026: Free Bus Travel Expanded to 12,692 Buses

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C. Joseph Vijay introduced the expanded scheme of free travel in government buses titled ‘Vettri Payanam’ on October 2, 2026, from the bus terminus at Koyambedu in Chennai. This program of free travel is being extended to more classes of buses apart from the buses that women and transgenders can travel in. It is estimated that about 84.32 lakh women will be able to take advantage of this scheme each day, and 12,692 government buses are covered in the expanded program.

What is Vettri Payanam Scheme?

Vettri Payanam is an extension of the present free bus travel scheme for ladies called Vidiyal Payanam in Tamil Nadu. The present facility included regular city buses and some regular hill route buses.

As part of the extended scheme, ladies can travel free by some more government buses such as express, lss and deluxe buses in urban areas and mofussil ordinary or ghat ordinary buses for longer distances and hill routes.

The new scheme came into force from October 2, 2026, which was Gandhi Jayanti.

Coverage under the Expanded Scheme: 12,692 Government Buses

Under the expanded scheme of Vettri Payanam, 12,692 buses are covered, which constitute about 69% of 18,413 scheduled buses run by Tamil Nadu’s seven State Transport Undertakings.

Out of 1,94,649 scheduled single trips, 1,65,312 single trips are covered under the scheme, which is equal to about 85%.

Vettri Payanam Scheme Eligible Buses

• Express buses running in metro or urban cities
• Limited Stop Services buses (LSS)
• Deluxe buses belonging to government sector
• Ordinary Mofussil buses
• Ordinary Ghat buses in eligible hill route
• Eligible ordinary city and town bus service

Who Can Avail Free Travel?

This expanded scheme is applicable to women and transgender who will be traveling through eligible government bus services.

There is no income cap on the beneficiaries of this scheme. Also, there is no limit on the number of trips that can be made under eligible service.

This expansion is aimed at facilitating trips that may include education, employment, healthcare, etc.

Cost Incurred Annually in the Scheme

It is estimated by the Tamil Nadu Government that the expanded Vettri Payanam scheme would cost about ₹6,000 crore annually.

The number of free bus services provided through the expanded scheme is much higher than the previously introduced Vidiyal Payanam scheme.

For instance, ₹3,600 crore was allocated as subsidy under the Vidiyal Payanam Scheme during the 2025-26 Budget of Tamil Nadu.

Electronic Ticketing Machines for Free Rides

It is noteworthy that the ETM systems installed in the buses under Vettri Payanam scheme have been utilized to record the free rides.

Before the implementation on October 2, these were tested and verified thoroughly.