The Rights of Persons With Disabilities and RTI Activists Team – Tamil Nadu (RPWD and RTI AT – TN) has made an appeal to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to extend the benefit of “fare free travelling” in Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses under the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme to men with disabilities.
In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the RPWD and RTI AT president Sundara Vimalanathan has pointed out that about 16 lakh men with disabilities, out of 36 lakh people with disabilities in the State would benefit under the scheme.
While welcoming the scheme, he made an appeal to extend the ‘fare free travel’ to men with disabilities since it would help those commuting to district/taluk headquarters hospitals for treatment or government offices on regular basis or as and when in need of medical assistance or to avail the benefits extended under various social welfare schemes.
Under the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme, women, including those with disabilitis, were allowed to travel free in the ordinary, express, limited stop service and deluxe bus services operated as town services in urban/semi-urban areas and in ordinary services under the mofussil and ghat services category, for a distance of up to 40 km.
A total of 12,692 bus services were to be brought under the scheme benefiting around 84.32 lakh women, official sources added.
Published – September 28, 2026 04:43 pm IST
