CHENNAI: The state government has decided to expand the free bus travel scheme for women to more categories of government buses, with the expanded facility set to come into effect from October 2.Announcing the expansion in the Assembly under Rule 110 on Monday, chief minister S Joseph Vijay said women would be allowed to travel free of cost on express, LSS and deluxe government buses operating in cities and urban areas under the first phase of the scheme.The benefit will also be extended to ordinary-fare government buses operating on mofussil and hill routes, enabling women to undertake inter-district journeys without paying fares.The expanded scheme is expected to entail an annual expenditure of around Rs 6,000 crore, according to the government.There will be no income ceiling for beneficiaries and no restriction on the number of journeys they can undertake under the scheme. Transgender persons will also be eligible for free travel.The government has chosen October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as the date for implementing the expanded scheme.
