Vettri Payanam Thittam: what is the economic mileage of a no-fare bus ride?

By The Hindu Staff

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Vettri Payanam Thittam: what is the economic mileage of a no-fare bus ride? — Photo credit: The Hindu

The State government expects around 84 lakh women to benefit from the Vettri Payanam Thittam every day. | Photo Credit: E. LAKSHMI NARAYANAN

Tamil Nadu government’s expanded Vettri Payanam Thittam (VPT) — the no-fare bus travel for women — which alone is expected to cost an additional ₹1,600 crore a year and a total of ₹6,000 crore, has brought to focus the social return on investment (SROI) versus fiscal cost.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay seems to have mastered the art of welfare politics by including the gratis within the State’s about ₹4-lakh-crore revenue spending framework.

However, the question is can the government convert the estimated 84 lakh daily journeys into measurable gains in employment of women, productivity, household income, and mobility?

Tamil Nadu’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), estimated at ₹40.67 lakh crore for 2026-27, is large enough to accommodate VPT; even as its outstanding liabilities are projected at about 27% of GSDP in 2026-27. Debt servicing is about ₹1.28 lakh crore or 37% of the estimated revenue receipts.

Originally published by The Hindu on Oct 11, 2026 Read the full article at thehindu.com

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