A video clip of Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking about free bus travel for women has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread debate in Tamil Nadu over the future of the state’s flagship Vidiyal Payanam scheme.
In the clip being circulated, the Prime Minister is seen speaking to a national news channel during the 2024 general election campaign. He criticised free travel policies introduced by some regional parties, arguing that such schemes divert funds from long-term infrastructure projects like metro rail networks.
PM Modi is quoted as saying, “When you build a metro in a city, and then announce free bus travel for women during election season, you are essentially emptying half your metro passengers. Such schemes, in the long run, make it difficult to fund metro projects. How will the country progress under these conditions?”
The remarks have been widely shared by supporters of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), who claim that if the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) contests the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the free bus travel scheme for women could be withdrawn.
However, as of now, neither the AIADMK nor the BJP has issued any official statement confirming that the Vidiyal Payanam scheme would be discontinued if they come to power.
About the Vidiyal Payanam Scheme
The Vidiyal Payanam scheme was launched in 2021 by the DMK government under Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. The programme allows women to travel free of cost on government-operated city and town buses across Tamil Nadu.
Presenting the Tamil Nadu Interim Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said the scheme has drastically reduced travel expenses for women and strengthened their economic participation.
According to official data, over 881 crore (8.81 billion) safe trips have been undertaken by women since the scheme’s launch. On average, women save around Rs 888 per month on transportation, significantly easing household financial pressure and enabling greater access to work, education, and markets.
In the 2026–27 Interim Budget, the Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 4,000 crore for the continued implementation of the Vidiyal Payanam scheme.
The Economic Survey of Tamil Nadu 2025–26 further highlights that transgender persons are also eligible for free bus travel under the scheme, making it one of the most inclusive public transport policies in the country.
The survey notes that mobility is central to women’s access to education and employment, and Tamil Nadu’s interventions directly address key barriers such as cost, safety, and dependence on male relatives. Vidiyal Payanam has expanded women’s independent mobility across the state, reducing transportation expenses and improving access to workplaces and local markets.
As the state heads towards the next Assembly elections, Vidiyal Payanam remains not just a transport policy, but a politically and socially powerful symbol of welfare governance in Tamil Nadu.
– Magizh
