Karaikal: There is an expectation that the guideline stating that a fee will be charged if passengers board or alight in areas belonging to the nearby Union Territory may be changed in the guidelines for the Tamil Nadu government’s Victory Journey scheme.
The Transport Department released the standard operating procedures and guidelines for implementing the Tamil Nadu government’s Victory Journey scheme the day before yesterday. It states that on ordinary buses traveling from Tamil Nadu to nearby states and Union Territories, zero-fare tickets should be issued only if both the boarding point and the alighting point for women are within Tamil Nadu.
If the boarding point or alighting point is in a neighboring state or union territory, it is stated that a valid ticket must be issued. There is an expectation among passengers traveling along the state border and transport employees that this rule should be changed.
Puducherry and Karaikal regions of the Puducherry Union Territory, which are located near Tamil Nadu, are geographically areas that fall within Tamil Nadu. In this situation, when Victory Journey scheme buses are operated through these areas, there are said to be confusions regarding traveling without paying fare. For example, a government bus going from the Mayiladuthurai district area to Nagapattinam passes through the Karaikal region.
On this bus, a passenger traveling from the Mayiladuthurai district area, passing through the Karaikal region and heading to the Nagai area, does not have to pay a fare. However, if the same passenger gets off at any place along the way that falls within the Karaikal region, they must pay the fare.
So, if that passenger says they are going to Nagai, takes a zero-fare ticket, and then gets off at some point in Karaikal along the way, can the conductor stop them? Or can the conductor insist that the passenger buy a fare ticket at that time? This question arises. Moreover, the public says this could lead to arguments and problems between passengers and conductors.
Regarding this, a government transport corporation official said, "For buses traveling to neighboring states or Union Territories, or via them, zero-fare tickets will be issued for the distance traveled within Tamil Nadu. Instructions have been given to issue fare tickets according to the distance traveled in neighboring states or Union Territories.
That is, for a woman passenger traveling from the Mayiladuthurai area to the Karaikal area, two tickets should be issued: a zero-fare ticket from the Mayiladuthurai area to the state border, and a fare ticket for the distance from beyond the border to the drop-off point in the Karaikal area. This rule will create unnecessary confusion and problems between the passenger and the conductor. This will be brought to the government’s attention," they said.
Regarding this, a social activist said, "Women from the border areas of Tamil Nadu travel in large numbers every day to Karaikal and Puducherry for work in construction, employment in commercial establishments, and medical treatment. Therefore, the government should take steps to grant an exemption at least for those who board in Tamil Nadu areas and get off in Puducherry areas," they said.
Distressed video released by a driver of a struggling private bus:
Due to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government’s expanded Vetri Payanam scheme, revenue on private buses has dropped sharply, and a distress video released by a private bus driver saying that he is unable to support his family because of this is going viral on social media.
Chief Minister Vijay recently launched the expanded Vetri Payanam scheme in Chennai, under which women can travel for free on city buses and ordinary suburban buses. Private bus drivers, auto drivers, and others have strongly opposed this scheme of the TVK government.

Driver Keerthivasan showing empty seats in a private bus.
In this situation, a video posted by a private bus driver from Nagapattinam named Keerthivasan, saying that the Tamil Nadu government's scheme has put their livelihood in jeopardy and that he is mentally distressed, not knowing what to do, is going viral on social media.
In that video, he says that only a very small number of passengers boarded their bus from Mayiladuthurai to Nagapattinam, and that not even a single woman came along. He also shows another private bus departing from Nagapattinam to Velankanni with all the seats empty, and says with anguish, “How are we supposed to run our families like this? It is a huge loss for bus owners too, and a loss of income for us as well.”
