‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme launched in Madurai

Madurai Collector Nishant Krishna launched the expansion of the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme at the MGR bus stand in Mattuthavani on Friday. A total of 705 buses will be operated under the scheme.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons, at the Koyambedu bus terminus in Chennai.

Under the expanded ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme, women and transgender persons can undertake no fare travel on the Ordinary, Express, Limited Stop Service, and Deluxe government buses operating in cities and towns and on the Ordinary buses operating in mofussil areas and hill routes.

Under the scheme, a total of 705 buses comprising 665 city buses (405 Ordinary, 64 Express, and 196 Deluxe) and 40 Mofussil buses operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC Madurai Zone) will be operated.

MLAs A. Kallanai, S.R. Thangapandi, Madhar Badhurudeen, Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan, Corporation Commissioner Gaurav Kumar, Managing Director of TNSTC (Madurai) V. Saravanan, General Manager J. Balamurugan and others were present at the event.

A district administration press release said the ‘Vettri Payanam’ scheme was implemented on Gandhi Jayanti with the main objective of ensuring social and economic independence of women. It would give them easy access to bus service for education, employment and medical needs.