Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday formally launched the expanded free bus travel scheme for women across all state-owned transport corporation buses and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) routes in the state. The scheme, named Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam in honour of the late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, is estimated to benefit approximately 1.2 crore women daily.
Speaking at the launch event at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, Stalin said the DMK government had fulfilled yet another poll promise, adding that the scheme was designed to provide economic relief to working women, students, and daily-wage earners. “When women can travel freely, they can work freely. This scheme will put hundreds of rupees back into every family’s hands every month,” he said.
Under the scheme, all women — including those from other states residing in Tamil Nadu — are entitled to free travel on government buses across all routes within the state. Women travelling to other states can avail the benefit up to the state border. The scheme covers all state-run transport corporations including TNSTC, SETC, PRTC, and MTC.
The state government estimates the annual cost of the scheme at approximately ₹1,800 crore, which will be borne entirely by the state exchequer. Transport Minister S S Sivasankar said the department had already recruited additional conductors and improved bus frequency on major routes to handle the expected surge in ridership.
AIADMK, the principal opposition party, welcomed the scheme but called it a “belated fulfillment” of a promise made three years ago. The party demanded that the government also extend free travel benefits to senior citizens, a scheme that was withdrawn by the DMK administration after coming to power.
Social welfare organisations praised the initiative, with several pointing out that similar schemes in Delhi and Karnataka had significantly boosted women’s workforce participation and economic independence.
