Hyderabad: The state govt, in coordination with the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC), launched the ‘GI on Wheels' programme at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) on Friday. The initiative was flagged off by governor Jishnu Dev Varma in the presence of transport and BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar, TGSRTC vice chairman and managing director Y Nagi Reddy, and Hyderabad collector Hari Chandana Dasari.
Conceived as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the programme aims to strengthen cultural identity and promote Telangana's globally recognised handicrafts through public transport. Acting on the governor's suggestion, the govt facilitated the display of six Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged handicrafts on RTC buses to enhance public awareness about the state's traditional artisan heritage. Specially designed GI-tag stickers were unveiled on buses at MGBS as part of the event.
The six featured GI-tagged handicrafts are ‘Pochampally Ikat', ‘Warangal Dhurries' (carpets), ‘Karimnagar Silver Filigree', ‘Narayanpet Sarees', ‘Cheriyal Scroll Paintings' and ‘Nirmal Paintings'. Each craft has been artistically printed on buses operating to their respective districts, showcasing the unique cultural identity of those regions. In the first phase, six express buses, one representing each district have been wrapped with specially designed stickers created by fine arts students of Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU).
Addressing the gathering, the governor stated that society is fundamentally rooted in culture and traditions and emphasised that cultural awareness is integral to sustainable development. He underscored the importance of promoting artisans and tourism to preserve the state's heritage and noted that introducing traditional art forms to younger generations is essential for safeguarding cultural continuity.
Minister Ponnam said the programme materialised following the governor's proposal and reflects the govt's commitment to strengthening the marketing and commercial viability of GI products. He stated that converting public transport into a mobile cultural platform would provide extensive visibility to Telangana's heritage crafts and contribute to sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural artisan communities.
Students who designed the bus artwork were felicitated with cash prizes and mementoes at the event. Subhajit Saha, who played a significant role in securing GI recognition for several Telangana crafts, was also honoured along with artisans representing the six featured traditions. Officials noted that Telangana currently has 18 GI-tagged products.
Madhu Rasala is a journalist based in Andhra Pradesh, with crime ...
Read MoreMadhu Rasala is a journalist based in Andhra Pradesh, with crime reporting as a major focus. He has been covering a wide range of beats including politics, development, tourism, environment, wildlife, civic issues, and social justice. Known for ground-level reporting and in-depth stories, Madhu brings sharp attention to detail and regional insight, especially while covering crime and law enforcement in the Telugu states.
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