Lahore, August 1 — The first-ever Automated Rapid Transit (ART) bus has arrived in Lahore, marking a significant milestone in Punjab’s public transport development. The state-of-the-art vehicle, which runs on rubber tires without the need for traditional tracks, has been hailed as a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly transport solution.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her enthusiasm for the ART system on social media platform X, sharing a video of the new bus and calling it “a new model that goes beyond tradition.” She emphasized that ART is designed to carry up to 300 passengers at a time and is built on a cutting-edge trackless system aimed at ensuring maximum utility and environmental sustainability.
In her message, CM Maryam Nawaz revealed that the ART bus will soon undergo a test run along Canal Road in Lahore to evaluate its operational performance. She also announced that 1,100 electric buses are currently being manufactured in China, with the first fleet of 240 expected to arrive in Pakistan on August 22. These buses will be deployed in districts that currently lack adequate public transport facilities.
Meanwhile, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and NESPAK have begun work on the project’s design. According to LDA sources, the ART system will not require the removal of any trees. Instead, a “cut-and-cover” method—similar to that used in the Orange Line Mall Road station—will be employed to build an underground, trackless tram corridor.
The introduction of ART reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to modernizing urban mobility while prioritizing environmental preservation and inclusive infrastructure development.
