Maryam Nawaz, Punjab’s Chief Minister, recently introduced what she called South Asia’s first “trackless tram,” a solar-powered, ticketless metro system imported from China. Branded as a “subway on wheels,” the vehicle aims to modernize urban transport across 30 cities in Punjab. During a test ride from Raiwind Road to Muslim Town in Lahore, Nawaz, alongside Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, evaluated its performance in live traffic and highlighted its role in shaping the region’s urban future.
However, the launch faced skepticism online, with many calling the trackless tram a glorified bus. Social media users questioned the innovation, pointing out its resemblance to an articulated bus—a flexible, high-capacity vehicle already in use globally. One user quipped, “It’s just a bus with a fancy name. Trackless tram? We’ve called that a bus for a century.” Another remarked, “Rebranding a bus as a ‘hyper-modern rail-less transport’ doesn’t make it new.” A community note on social media linked to Wikipedia, clarifying that the trackless tram is essentially an articulated bus designed to mimic tram aesthetics without rails.
Despite the trolling, officials defend the project as a step toward sustainable, efficient urban mobility. The debate continues: is this a revolutionary transport solution or just a bus by another name?
