Tamil Nadu Free Bus Travel Scheme Expanded for Women, CM C Joseph Vijay Announces

The Tamil Nadu free bus travel scheme for women is set for a major expansion, with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announcing that beneficiaries will now be able to travel free of charge on additional categories of government buses.

Making several announcements in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday, Vijay said the expanded Vettri Payanam scheme would have no income ceiling or limit on the number of trips for eligible women.

The expanded benefits are scheduled to begin from October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. According to the Chief Minister, the expansion will require an additional expenditure of around Rs 6,000 crore annually for the state government.

Free Travel Extended to Express and Deluxe Buses

Under the expanded scheme, women will be allowed to travel free of charge on several categories of government buses.

The benefits will cover Express, LSS and Deluxe services operating in metropolitan and urban areas. Women travelling in suburban, or Mofussil, and hilly areas will also be able to use regular-fare government buses without paying a ticket.

Vijay said there would be no restrictions based on income or the number of journeys undertaken by beneficiaries.

Vettri Payanam Scheme to Have No Trip Limit

Announcing the decision under Rule 110 in the Assembly, Vijay said women would not face a limit on the number of trips under the expanded fare-free travel programme.

The move is expected to widen access to public transport and provide additional financial relief to women who depend on government buses for commuting.

The government has positioned the expansion as one of its key welfare measures and an implementation of an important electoral commitment.

Three Free LPG Cylinders Announced

Alongside the expansion of the Tamil Nadu free bus travel scheme, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced another major welfare measure involving cooking gas.

Under the Annapoorani Super Six scheme, the government had promised to provide six free LPG cylinders every year to eligible families.

The Chief Minister announced that the government will initially provide three free cooking gas cylinders to eligible beneficiaries.

LPG Cylinder Costs to Be Credited Directly

According to Vijay, the cost of the three LPG cylinders will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries.

The measure is intended to reduce the household financial burden associated with purchasing cooking gas cylinders.

The Chief Minister said the government would bear the cost of the cylinders in the first phase, with the benefit being provided through direct bank transfers.

The announcement was welcomed by members of the Treasury benches, who responded with loud table-thumping in the Assembly.

Parandur Greenfield Airport Project to Be Shelved

In another significant announcement, Vijay said the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project would be shelved.

The airport project had faced strong opposition from farmers who were concerned about the acquisition of agricultural land.

The decision marks another major policy announcement by the Tamil Nadu government and addresses one of the contentious infrastructure proposals that had generated opposition among affected farming communities.

Government Focuses on Electoral Commitments
The announcements made by Vijay in the Assembly are being viewed as the implementation of several key promises made during the Assembly election campaign.

The expansion of Vettri Payanam, free LPG support under Annapoorani Super Six and the decision regarding the Parandur airport project represent major policy moves with implications for women, households and farmers.

Additional Financial Commitment for Bus Scheme
The expanded free travel programme will place an additional financial burden of approximately Rs 6,000 crore per year on the state government.

Despite the expenditure involved, the government has decided to expand the scheme by covering additional categories of buses and removing restrictions on income and the number of trips.

The move is expected to increase the number of journeys covered under the programme and broaden access to fare-free public transportation for women across urban, suburban and hilly regions.

Women to Receive Wider Public Transport Access
The expansion means that eligible women will have greater access to government-run bus services without paying fares.

In metropolitan and urban areas, the inclusion of Express, LSS and Deluxe buses is expected to give beneficiaries more travel options. In Mofussil and hilly regions, regular-fare buses will be covered.

The absence of an income ceiling or trip limit is another significant feature of the announcement.

LPG Support Aims to Reduce Household Expenses
The LPG subsidy component of the Annapoorani Super Six scheme is aimed at reducing household expenditure on cooking fuel.

By transferring the cost directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts, the government intends to provide financial support without requiring eligible families to bear the full cost of the cylinders.

The initial three-cylinder benefit is being introduced as the first phase of the broader welfare commitment.

The Tamil Nadu free bus travel scheme is set for a significant expansion from October 2, with women beneficiaries gaining free access to additional government bus services, including Express, LSS and Deluxe buses in urban areas.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay also announced three free LPG cylinders for eligible families under the Annapoorani Super Six scheme, with the cost to be credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts.

The decision to shelve the Parandur greenfield airport project was another major announcement in the Assembly, particularly amid opposition from farmers concerned about agricultural land acquisition.

Together, the announcements represent a significant set of welfare and policy measures by the Tamil Nadu government, with the administration seeking to implement key electoral commitments while expanding financial and public-transport support for eligible residents.