LAHORE – Pakistan is preparing to roll out its first-ever trackless, ticketless, and solar-powered metro system in Lahore, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
The new transport model—called the Super Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (SRT) System—has been described as a “subway on wheels.” The first demo vehicle has arrived in Lahore, and a pilot project is already underway near the airport.
Unlike traditional metro trains, the SRT doesn’t need rail tracks. Instead, it uses Virtual Track Technology to navigate city roads. The system relies on sensors, GPS, and digital mapping to guide its fully electric, battery-powered vehicles along a mapped route.
Officials from both Pakistan and China attended the launch ceremony, which marks a leap toward smart, eco-friendly urban transport. Without the need for heavy infrastructure like tracks, the SRT is expected to be a low-cost and high-capacity solution for congested cities.
This system is already in operation in countries like China, Malaysia, the UAE, and Türkiye, and could serve as a scalable fix for Pakistan’s growing urban traffic issues.
If proven successful, Lahore’s SRT could pave the way for similar projects in other major cities.
Meanwhile in Karachi, Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon shared that the Red Line BRT project is unlikely to be completed by the end of 2026. He cited delays due to utility transfers and acknowledged that citizens facing traffic chaos have every reason to be frustrated with the current situation.
