Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday launched the expanded Vettri Payanam scheme, providing free bus travel for women across the state. The initiative began on Gandhi Jayanti, with the chief minister issuing zero-fare tickets to women passengers at Koyambedu Bus Terminus. The scheme was originally announced under Rule 110 in the Assembly on August 24. It is intended to ensure that transport costs do not prevent women from accessing education, employment, healthcare and other social and economic opportunities. The expanded facility now covers Express, Limited Stop Services, Deluxe, Suburban Ordinary and Ghat Ordinary services operating beyond 40 km. Previously, free travel was limited to ordinary city and town buses, with services in hilly regions covered only up to 40 km. The facility is being implemented through Tamil Nadu’s seven State Transport Corporations. Under the expansion, 12,695 buses will operate 168,500 single trips each day, benefiting an estimated 8,432,000 women daily across the state. There is no income ceiling for beneficiaries and no limit on the number of trips they can make in a day. The government said the scheme would help female students travel to distant colleges, support working women and transgender people commuting to workplaces, and assist passengers travelling for medical and essential needs. Transport Minister A Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said the programme would support education, employment, livelihoods and economic empowerment by removing travel costs as a barrier. He described it as an equality-focused welfare measure that would strengthen women’s participation in public life and the economy. The scheme’s name, derived from the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, means victorious journey. Implementation in Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district has been deferred because of the Model Code of Conduct for by-elections. The government will introduce the facility in the two districts after the election process concludes. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and Transport Secretary L Nirmalraj, attended the launch.