ISLAMABAD: The Executive Board of the National Highway Authority gave formal approval for hiring of consultants for design of necessary infrastructure for the Islamabad Metro Bus Project. The decision came in a meeting held on Monday at the NHA head office with Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar in the chair. The chairman informed the meeting that the Metro Bus project envisaged extending the existing route from Peshawar Morr to New Islamabad International Airport. He said the project was initiated under the special directives of the prime minister to facilitate the masses by providing a fast and easy link with the new airport and the National Highway Authority was entrusted the task to build the necessary infrastructure for it. He said the project length was 26.5 km and it was divided into two packages: Peshawar Morr to G-13 and from G-13 to N-5 interchange. It will cost around Rs 18 billion and construction of four interchanges and 14 stopovers (stations) are also part of the project, he said.