A government order issued on October 27 extends free travel for persons with 40% or more disability to Express, LSS, Deluxe, mofussil and hill-route ordinary government buses. A Tamil Nadu UDID card is enough, and one escort can travel free with those who cannot travel alone.
A government order issued on October 27 extends free travel for persons with 40% or more disability to Express, LSS, Deluxe, mofussil and hill-route ordinary government buses. A Tamil Nadu UDID card is enough, and one escort can travel free with those who cannot travel alone.
Persons with disabilities in Tamil Nadu can now travel free on far more government buses. A revised order issued by the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department on October 27, 2026 extends the free-travel facility beyond ordinary town buses. Social Welfare Minister K. Jegadeshwari had announced the expansion in the Assembly in August.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible? | Persons with 40% or more disability holding a valid Tamil Nadu UDID card |
| What do I show? | Your UDID card; the conductor issues a zero-fare ticket |
| Can someone travel with me? | Yes — one escort travels free with a person who cannot travel alone |
| Any limits? | Distance limits of 35 km (served areas) and 40 km (unserved areas) apply under the order; check with your transport corporation |
Persons with disabilities who are not covered continue to get the 75% fare concession on non-AC government buses.
For a person with a disability, a free seat on an Express or mofussil bus can mean reaching a hospital, a college or a job interview in another town without worrying about the fare. It builds on the Vettri Payanam scheme that made bus travel free for women and transgender persons from October 2.
Welfare Persons with Disabilities Free Bus Travel Day 173