TVK government changes name of free bus travel program for women

In Chennai alone, women enjoy free travel in 1,500 regular fare buses, according to a senior Metropolitan Transport Corporation official. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

The TVK government has changed the name of the free bus travel scheme for women from ‘Mahalir Vidiyal Payanam’ as it was named by the DMK government to ‘Magalir Payanam’.

Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses had boards that read ‘Magalir Payanam’ on Thursday. The word “Vidiyal” has been removed from the regular fare buses designated for this scheme.

A senior transport ministry official said MTC branch managers have been instructed to implement the name change for all regular fare buses.

After assuming office on 7 May 2021, the DMK government led by MK Stalin introduced “Vidiyal Payanam” to allow women to travel free of charge in whiteboard buses. The program included more than 7,300 regular fare buses out of 9,000 city buses operated by state transport companies. In Chennai alone, women enjoy free travel in 1,500 regular fare buses, a senior MTC official said.

Meanwhile, DMK leader and former minister Thangam Thennarasu wrote on X, “You can change the name but history cannot be changed.”

In his submission, he said that renaming the program ‘Mahalir Vidiyal Payanam’, which has brought a significant change in the lives of women, is not an administrative measure meant for public welfare; it was merely an attempt to erase political identity. The success of the scheme would not determine its name; it will be determined by the progress it has brought about in people’s lives. The time and energy spent on name changes should be invested in new programs to improve people’s livelihoods and strengthen services, he added.

Published – 9 Jul 2026 21:25 IST