Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will launch the expanded Vettri Payanam – free bus travel for women – coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti on Friday.

Starting tomorrow, women and transgenders can travel completely free of charge on 12,692 state-run buses across Tamil Nadu.

The welfare scheme’s name is derived from the ruling party – Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam – to mean “victorious journey” (Vettri payanam) for women.

The free travel was previously restricted to ordinary city buses and the government later announced to expand the scheme to include express, limited stop services and deluxe buses in corporation, municipal and town panchayats and hill areas across Tamil Nadu.

There’s no income limit or ceiling on the number for the beneficiaries to avail the daily services.

The expansion is expected to benefit about 8.4 million women daily, facilitating over 1.6 million one-way trips.

The government aims to ensure that women across all regions can access travel opportunities without financial barriers, upholding principles of social justice, an official said.