{
  "id": 11401275,
  "title": "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay launches Vettri Payanam scheme, expanding no-fare bus travel for women",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-launches-vettri-payanam-scheme-expanding-no-fare",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:09:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-launches-vettri-payanam-scheme-expanding-free-bus-travel-for-women/article71536299.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the 'Vettri Payanam' scheme on October 2, 2026, with the aim of expanding no-fare bus travel for women and transgender persons. The scheme, which coincides with Gandhi Jayanthi, will provide free travel in Ordinary, Express, Limited Stop Service (LSS), and Deluxe buses for women in cities and towns, Ordinary buses in mofussil areas, and Ordinary buses in Ghat sections over 40 km. The expanded scheme benefits 84.32 lakh beneficiaries daily and covers 12,695 buses under the seven State Transport Corporations, with 1,68,500 trips operated. However, the scheme will not be implemented in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts due to bypolls in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay expands free bus travel scheme to benefit 84 lakh women",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-expands-free-bus-travel-scheme-to-benefit-84-lakh",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:22:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "What is the Vettri Payanam Thittam launched by Tamil Nadu CM Vijay? Explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/what-is-the-vettri-payanam-thittam-launched-by-tamil-nadu-cm-vijay",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:44:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Tamil Nadu CM Vijay turns bus conductor, hands out tickets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/tamil-nadu-cm-vijay-turns-bus-conductor-hands-out-tickets",
        "published": "2026-10-02T09:00:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "2 Tamil Nadu officials suspended over Hindi signposts on state highway amid uproar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/2-tamil-nadu-officials-suspended-over-hindi-signposts-on-state",
        "published": "2026-10-02T09:01:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}