The new Greenfield Expressway, is expected to improve connectivity between the National Capital Region and the Kumaon region by replacing slow and congested routes with a modern high-speed corridor.
Gurugram and the wider Delhi-NCR region are set to benefit from an infrastructure boost, as a new expressway connecting Bareilly and Haldwani is planned to make travel to Nainital faster and smoother. Construction work has begun on the 100-km, four-lane Bareilly-Haldwani Greenfield Expressway, which is expected to cut travel time to the foothills of Uttarakhand by more than three hours.
The project is expected to improve connectivity between the National Capital Region and the Kumaon region by replacing slow and congested routes with a modern high-speed corridor.
Bareilly-Haldwani Greenfield Expressway: Project Overview
What makes this project different from traditional highway expansions is that, instead of widening already congested roads, the expressway is being built on a completely new alignment. The controlled-access corridor is designed to reduce interference from local traffic.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reportedly approved the project and begun initial survey work. The 100-km expressway will feature a modern four-lane controlled-access highway, with on-site construction officially starting in late May.
The vision behind this expressway is to create a seamless connection between Bareilly and Haldwani. By developing a direct high-speed corridor, the project aims to bypass several traffic-prone areas that have long caused delays for travellers, including Rudrapur, Kichha, Lalkuan, Pantnagar, and Baheri.
In Bareilly, the expressway will directly connect with NH-30 and NH-24, helping create a smoother route between Delhi-NCR and the Kumaon hills, according to a report by The Tribune.
What this means for travellers
For people travelling from Gurugram and Delhi, the new expressway is expected to make road trips to Uttarakhand much faster and smoother by cutting down heavy traffic on the existing route. The project could reduce travel time to the foothills to under four hours.
The controlled-access highway is also expected to improve driving safety and support business activity in areas like Pantnagar and Lalkuan through better transport connectivity.
Reports suggest private vehicle owners may receive toll discounts through a proposed FASTag annual pass.
As Haldwani is the gateway to hill stations such as Nainital, Bhimtal and Ranikhet, weekend trips for North Indian travellers will become more convenient. The expressway is expected to benefit not only tourists travelling from Delhi-NCR but also commuters from central Uttar Pradesh. Reports further suggest that the corridor could eventually be linked with upcoming road networks such as the Shamli-Gorakhpur Expressway.
