NEW DELHI National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded Rs 1,336 crore projects for augmenting various stretches on NH 87 connecting Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand , to Sadbhav Infrastructure.On completion, the journey from the national capital to Nainital and beyond would get shorter."Rampur to Rudrapur to Kathgodam on NH-87 connecting Uttar Pradesh to Uttarakhand will be built on BOT (build, operate, transfer) hybrid-annuity mode in two packages which have been cleared by NHAI Board in favour of Sadbhav Infrastructure Project Limited at bid price of Rs 1,336 crore," NHAI said in a statement.Although the length of the project is only 93 km, it is critical for connecting to Nainital, it said adding the project will have three bypasses at Rampur, Bilaspur and Haldwani towns.The project is scheduled to be completed in two-and-half years time.The stretches are part of NH-87 starting from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh and terminating at Karnaprayag in Uttarakhand."Four-laning of Rampur-Rudrapur-Kathgodam section would strengthen road infrastructure and serve as an important link to tourist places like Nainital, Kausani, Ranikhet, Mukteswar, Almora etc. This would also give impetus to industrial development as prominent industrial estates at Pantnagar and Lalkuan fall on this route," the statement said.On completion, this would save the travel time for traffic plying from Delhi to Nainital and beyond in Uttarakhand apart from reducing cost of travel by lowering maintenance and wear and tear cost of vehicles, it added.The project would cover districts of Rampur, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital and important towns such as Rampur, Bhotbazar, Bilaspur, Rudrapur, Pantnagar, Lalkuan, Haldwani and Kathgodam.