A Rs 2,800 crore ropeway project will connect Kathgodam railway station with Nainital and Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand. The first phase covers 14.9 km between Kathgodam and Hanuman Garhi in Nainital, with 78 towers. Capacity: approximately 1,800 passengers per hour. Journey time from Ranibagh to Hanuman Garhi: 20-25 minutes (currently 90 minutes by road). The original plan was limited to Kathgodam-Nainital, but expanded towards Kainchi Dham due to growing visitors to Neem Karoli Baba shrine (50 lakh devotees in nine months). Revised plan includes ropeway infrastructure from Kathgodam and Jyolikot towards Kainchi Dham, approved by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. A 250-metre foot overbridge will connect Kathgodam railway station directly to the ropeway complex. The ropeway plan between Kathgodam and Hanuman Garhi has been under survey since 2018. Uttarakhand government held meeting on 16 September to discuss the project. Officials noted the terrain between Haldwani and Nainital is geographically sensitive, requiring technical assessment before construction. Officials will prepare reports on project changes, land acquisition, and construction requirements.

The Kathgodam to Nainital ropeway project, costing approximately 1600 crore rupees, has cleared regulatory hurdles for construction. The 14-kilometre ropeway will have four major stations: lower terminal at HMT Ranibagh, turn station at Dolmar, mid-term station at Jyolikot, and upper terminal at Hanumangadhi in Nainital.

Ancillary facilities include:

• Ranibagh: three-star hotel (35.40 crore rupees), multi-storey car parking (50 crore rupees), food outlets, family entertainment zone, retail shops, restaurants
• Jyolikot: eco-tourism resort (20.25 crore rupees), retail shops, food and beverage outlets

The project is being developed by National Highway Logistics Management Limited in coordination with district administration. A joint inspection is scheduled for 7 September 2026. The ropeway aims to provide an alternative to road congestion for tourists traveling between Kathgodam and Nainital.

The Nainital-Kathgodam Highway widening project worth 709 crore has cleared its main barrier. The district administration provided six hectares of forest land to National Highways for compensatory afforestation, resolving the forest land transfer process that had stalled the project.

Forest land transfer documentation will be uploaded online by July 15. Property valuations for buildings and shops in the widening zone will have tenders issued by end of August. The highway widening tender is expected by December, with construction beginning in early 2025.

Forest Commissioner Nitin Gadkari launched the project, but forest land transfer blocked progress. The administration had provided 94 hectares for compensatory planting but six hectares remained pending; a proposal had even been rejected at forest department level.

The 33-kilometer highway currently takes 2.5 hours by bus; after widening it will take 80 minutes. The highway will be widened to approximately 12 meters. Works include: relocation of 7,236 trees, electricity and water line transfers, and utility relocations.

The separate 3.5-kilometer Ranibagh-Kathgodam-Gaulapur bypass also cleared forest land barriers and will relieve congestion in the Ranibagh-Kathgodam area.

Over 19 accident-prone black spots identified in Nainital district, Uttarakhand, reporting hundreds of accidents yearly. High-risk zones include Bhawali, Kaladhungi, Haldwani-Nainital Road, Ramgarh, Bhimtal, Jyolikot, and Kathgodam-Garampani stretch. Most dangerous routes: Haldwani-Kathgodam Road, Nainital-Kaladhungi Road, Nainital-Ramnagar Road. Common issues: sharp curves, narrow and damaged roads, lack of road signs, poor lighting, speeding, overtaking-related collisions. Ministry of Road Transport 2024 report: Nainital recorded 512 road accidents, 198 deaths, hundreds injured; approximately 60% occurred at identified black spots. District administration implementing improvements: road repairs, road signs and reflectors, safety walls, speed breakers, CCTV cameras. Joint teams from Public Works Department, Traffic Police, and Transport Department engaged. Customised strategies based on geographical conditions. Public awareness campaigns for road safety. Experts emphasise physical improvements must be complemented by strict enforcement of traffic rules.

A weekend influx of devotees to Kainchi Dham, associated with Neem Karoli Baba, caused gridlock on the Haldwani–Kainchi Dham route and roads towards Nainital and Almora. Journeys usually taking two to three hours stretched to 10–12 hours. Traffic backed up around Bhimtal, Bhowali and Garam Pani; one traveller said his 72-year-old mother and an 80-year-old relative took over 11 hours to travel from Haldwani to Garam Pani. Ambulances, schoolchildren, elderly passengers and essential-supply vehicles were also delayed.

On Sunday, authorities barred outer two-wheelers from the Kainchi route, diverted some hill-bound traffic via Kathgodam–Bhimtal and introduced one-way movement on the Jyolikot highway. Shuttle services from Bhimtal Vikas Bhavan and Bhowali Sanatorium parking areas were increased. Daily footfall, previously estimated at 4,000–5,000, exceeded 6,000 on some days; weekend crowds were estimated at 15,000–20,000 or more.

Locals and ashram authorities linked the rush to Hanuman Ansh, a film on Neem Karoli Baba directed by Vishal Chaturvedi. Made on a reported ₹2 crore budget, it reached India net collections of about ₹321.73 crore by Day 58, India gross of ₹379 crore and worldwide gross of ₹419 crore. Ashram entry and exit arrangements were tightened, barricading increased and volunteers deployed.