Green light: PC-1 of Peshawar Mor Metro Bus project approved

NHA official dispels impression that project will affect Kashmir Highway


Sehrish Wasif February 15, 2017
Travellers have expressed resentment over the delay in launching the shuttle service. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The executive board of National Highway Authority (NHA) on Tuesday approved plans for building a metro bus from Peshawar Mor to the New Islamabad International Airport (NIIA).

Last month on January, 16, the executive board of the NHA gave its formal approval to hire consultants designing infrastructure of the Rs18 billion extension of the Islamabad Metro Bus line.

While sharing the details of the project, NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar said that all necessary arrangements are being made so that it could be completed on time.

The project is stipulated to be completed by August 14 this year.

The project, he said, would be completed in four stages. He added that initially ten stations would be built along the Metro Bus route, while three stations would be constructed later.

According to NHA officials, the idea behind starting the bus project was to facilitate people traveling to NIIA and its surrounding areas.

“The Metro Bus project would provide economical transport for the airport staff as well who have to travel to the newly constructed airport twice every day,” the NHA official added.

There is a misperception among people residing in the sectors along Kashmir Highway that the extension of the metro bus project would cause damage to the newly constructed highway, however, NHA wants to make it clear that infrastructure work for the project would not affect the current layout of the road, he said.

The meeting also approved the detailed design for dualisation of the 164 kilometer-long Gambila-Kohat Section of the Indus Highway, upgrading the 63 km-long Jand-Kohat Section, and a new, 23 km-long link from Jand to Pindi Gheb - connecting N-80 with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting also approved the construction of a 16-lane Toll Plaza on M-1 in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2017.

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