• R. Ragapriya
• Dr. K Pushpalatha

ABSTRACT Tamil Nadu introduced the Magalir Vidiyal Payanam (fare-free bus travel) scheme in 2021, providing women with free travel in ordinary government-operated city and town buses. The scheme was designed not merely as a transport subsidy but as a social-welfare and gender-equity intervention intended to reduce women's mobility costs, improve access to employment and essential services, and strengthen their economic independence. This chapter presents the framework, impact and literature review of Magalir vidiyal payanam. Evidence from government budget documents and independent studies indicates that this programme has substantially increased women's bus usage and reduced household transportation expenditure. However, challenges concerning bus capacity, service frequency, infrastructure, financial sustainability and the quality of implementation remain important. Overall, the scheme represents a significant experiment in gender-responsive public transport policy, but its long-term success depends on improving service quality alongside maintaining fare support.

Keywords: Magalir Vidiyal Payanam, Framework, Impact, Literature Review.

"Magalir Vidiyal Payanam - Framework And Literature Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no.a385-a389, October-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610042.pdf

"Magalir Vidiyal Payanam - Framework And Literature Review", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no. ppa385-a389, October-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610042.pdf