Your next Nainital trip just got 3 hours shorter: Here's why

A major road travel transformation is being shaped in northern India as the new Bareilly-Haldwani Greenfield Expressway is being developed to reduce the long and tiring journey from Delhi-NCR to Nainital — cutting travel time by more than three hours. (Representative pic)

The Bareilly-Haldwani Expressway is a proposed 100-km, four-lane greenfield corridor designed to strengthen connectivity between Rohilkhand in Uttar Pradesh and the foothills of Uttarakhand, providing a faster and safer route for both daily commuters and tourists. (Representative pic)

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the project and initiated construction activities after completing preliminary survey work. Unlike conventional highway projects, the expressway is being developed on an entirely fresh alignment instead of widening existing roads. (Representative pic)

The expressway is designed to bypass multiple traffic-prone areas that have long caused delays for commuters, including Rudrapur, Kichha, Lalkuan, Pantnagar and Baheri. In Bareilly, it will directly connect with NH-30 and NH-24, building a seamless route between Delhi-NCR and the Kumaon hills. (Representative pic)

As Haldwani is the main gateway to hill stations such as Nainital, Bhimtal and Ranikhet, the expressway will unlock faster access to the entire Kumaon region — making weekend getaways from Delhi significantly quicker and more convenient for millions of travellers. 

The controlled-access expressway will feature safer driving conditions with planned entry and exit points. Commuters can expect fewer interruptions, better road quality and shorter travel times — making weekend trips to destinations like Nainital, Bhimtal, Mukteshwar and Kausani far more convenient. (Representative pic)

Experts believe the expressway could boost tourism, trade and economic growth across both states. Better connectivity may attract more tourists from Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand's hill towns, while businesses and farmers could benefit from faster transportation and easier movement of goods. (Representative pic)

Construction activity on the Bareilly-Haldwani Greenfield Expressway was reported to have begun in late May 2026. The corridor has been planned as a modern highway separated from local road traffic — with a controlled-access structure designed to reduce random entry points and slow-moving vehicles. (Representative pic)