Chennai: All transport corporation buses that come under the ambit of ‘Vettri Payanam’ free travel scheme for women and transgender persons must issue a zero ticket to every eligible passenger and record the passenger’s origin and destination. The concession will not apply to journeys beginning or ending outside the state, according to standard operating procedures issued by the transport department. The scheme covers ordinary, express, LSS, deluxe, mofussil ordinary and ghat ordinary services. There is no income ceiling or restriction on the number of journeys a beneficiary can make.While the fare-less travel scheme existed only in ordinary bus services under the DMK regime, now the conductors of other services included in the scheme have been directed to record the ‘From/Origin’ and ‘To/Destination’ details on the zero ticket.The guidelines have also laid down specific restrictions for inter-state passing-through ordinary services. A passenger will be eligible for a zero ticket only if both the boarding point and destination are within Tamil Nadu. The concession will apply even if the bus passes through another State or Union Territory between the two points. However, if either the boarding point or destination is in another state or union territory, the passenger will not be eligible for the free travel concession and must be issued a ticket for the applicable fare.
