Free Travel for Women in Government Buses (Vidiyal / Magalir Payanam)

Scheme Overview

WHAT THE SCHEME IS

Since 2021, free travel has been provided for all women — including working
women — for transgender persons and for girls pursuing higher education, in the
ordinary fare city buses operated under the control of the Tamil Nadu State
Transport Corporation. The scheme is listed by the Social Welfare and Women
Empowerment Department among its women's welfare measures, and is popularly
called Vidiyal Payanam or Magalir Payanam.

WHICH BUSES

The department's page states the concession for ordinary fare city buses of the
TNSTC. Express, deluxe and air-conditioned services are a different fare class.
If you are unsure about a particular service, ask the conductor before boarding
rather than trusting a forwarded message.

A WIDER SCHEME HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT, NOT NOTIFIED

An expansion of free travel to all government buses has been reported in the
press under the name Vetri Payanam. No notification for it appears on the
department's site, so TN JOBS is not describing it as being in force. This page
will be updated when an official order is published.

Benefits

- Free travel in the ordinary fare city buses of the Tamil Nadu State Transport
  Corporation.
- A zero-fare ticket is issued in the bus; nothing is paid.

Eligibility

- All women, including working women.
- Transgender persons.
- Girls pursuing higher education.

No income limit. No registration. No card.

How to Apply

There is nothing to apply for. Board an ordinary fare city bus and collect the
zero-fare ticket from the conductor.

No one can "register" you for this scheme, because there is no registration.

WARNINGS
- The government charges no fee for this scheme. Do not pay any agent or
  middleman, and do not pay anyone who offers to "get it sanctioned" for you.
- No official will ask you for your OTP, ATM PIN or bank password.
- Do not enter your details on links forwarded through WhatsApp or Telegram.
  Check that the address ends in .gov.in before typing anything.
- TN JOBS does not accept applications for this or any other scheme, and will
  never ask you for money or documents.

Documents Required

None required to travel. Carry any photo identity you normally carry.