WelfareContemporary Tamil Nadu

Free bus travel for women in town buses

· Chennai

Among his first orders as Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin made travel free for women in ordinary state-run town buses.

On taking office on 7 May 2021, Stalin signed orders including free travel for women in ordinary-fare town buses run by state transport corporations, which took effect the next day. The scheme was later extended to transgender persons and persons with disabilities and their attendants. The government reimburses the transport corporations through a subsidy. Studies reported increased use of buses by women, and the scheme was later known as Vidiyal Payanam.

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