CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated the operation of pink, fare-free buses exclusive for women by flagging them off at the Global Women Summit 2026 at the Chennai Trade Centre in Nandambakkam.
In the first phase, 10 women-exclusive buses were introduced on five routes, with two buses deployed on each route. All the conductors on these services are women, and they were provided with a special pink uniform.
The routes covered are 56A from Vallalar Nagar to Ennore, 32B from Korukkupet Railway Station to Vivekanandar Illam, 57 from Sengundram to Vallalar Nagar, 102P from Broadway to Perumbakkam, and 102K from Broadway to Kannagi Nagar.
The Vidiyal Payanam ordinary fare buses are dedicated women-only services intended to facilitate travel to schools, colleges and workplaces within the Chennai metropolitan area. The initiative aims to improve women’s mobility, safety and economic participation. The Metropolitan Transport Corporation currently operates these exclusive fare-free services only for women passengers, including college students and schoolchildren, an official release said.
Daily ridership on Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses in Chennai has shown steady growth over the past few years. The average number of daily passengers increased from about 28.70 lakh in 2021-22 to 33.72 lakh in 2025-26, up to December 2025, indicating a gradual rise in the use of public transport, according to the release.
The services were launched in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers TM Anbarasan, Geetha Jeevan and Ma Subramanian, and Chief Secretary N Muruganandam.
The fare-free bus travel scheme for women, known as the Vidiyal Payanam scheme, was launched in May 2021. To enable easy identification of buses for women passengers, pink-coloured ordinary service buses were introduced in August 2022.