Delhi-NCR to Nainital in just 3 hours? New Bareilly-Haldwani Expressway project set to transform hill travel

Good news for road trippers! In a recent update, a new greenfield expressway connecting Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh with Haldwani in Uttarakhand is expected to cut travel time between Delhi and Nainital by more than three hours once completed! As per several news reports, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the proposed Bareilly-Haldwani Greenfield Expressway. The new corridor is seen as a four-lane, access-controlled highway spanning around 100 kilometres. According to reports, construction activity reportedly began in late May 2026.


Let’s find out more about this:

Into the Kumaon Hills
Travellers from Delhi-NCR headed for a holiday in Nainital had to deal with traffic issues on present highways. Weekends, long holidays, and peak tourist seasons are extremely bad in terms of traffic. The current road journey can often take six to seven hours or more depending on congestion.


Aim of the new expressway

The new expressway aims to change the current traffic situation by creating a dedicated high-speed corridor between Bareilly and Haldwani. These are two significant gateways to Uttarakhand's Kumaon region. When completed, the project is expected to reduce overall travel time between Delhi-NCR and Nainital by more than three hours! This is definitely great news for weekenders and holidaymakers.

Beyond Tourism

This expressway is going to solve a lot. While boosting tourism is one of the most important features, the expressway's significance extends beyond. Haldwani serves as the commercial hub of Kumaon and acts as a prime link to destinations such as Nainital, Bhimtal, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet, Almora, Kausani, and Pithoragarh. Improved connectivity is likely to support trade, logistics, and regional economic development across both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.


But the best thing is that it would ease pressure on the existing highways.


What does Greenfield Model means

The Bareilly-Haldwani Expressway is being planned as a greenfield corridor which means the road will be built on a new alignment. It is a more efficient route. The proposed four-lane access-controlled expressway is expected to enhance safety and reduce travel delays.

What it means for travellers

It will be a game-changer for Delhi-NCR residents. Some of the prominent destinations such as Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, and Mukteshwar may become more accessible and boost local tourism economies. With many prime highway projects already reducing travel times to destinations such as Dehradun and Haridwar, the proposed Bareilly-Haldwani Expressway could become another game changer.


Although construction timelines and completion dates are yet to be formally announced, the announcement of the upcoming expressway is welcoming.