Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s state transport corporations have sought an annual subsidy of ₹12,000 crore to run the expanded women’s free travel programme, but the state government has indicated that only ₹6,000 crore will be provided, officials said.
The women’s free travel scheme, launched earlier in ordinary fare buses, has now been expanded under the name “Vetri Payanam”. Under the expanded coverage, women can travel free in ordinary and deluxe buses operating in city and town limits, as well as in inter-district suburban and hill-region ordinary fare services. Officials said the benefit is available across 12,695 buses, excluding AC express services.
With women passengers reportedly crowding most services, revenue has fallen at depots. Across 340 depots, collections are said to have dropped by about ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh per depot, creating operational strain.
Transport corporation officials said that in the earlier phase, the scheme covered about 7,000 ordinary fare buses and the government provided ₹6,000 crore annually, releasing funds in stages once every three months. Now, with daily ridership said to be up to 84.32 lakh, corporations have estimated the annual cost at around ₹12,000 crore based on ticket-value calculations per woman passenger.
However, officials said the government has so far not released any amount since the expanded rollout and has not specified when funds will be disbursed. They warned that continued delays could affect bus operations, including the ability to purchase diesel and spares, and urged the state to take timely steps to avoid disruption.
