Pune: A site visit by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was curtailed on Monday due to intense traffic congestion at the heart of Pune. The minister had come to review a proposed tunnel project intended to ease the burden on two of the city’s busiest routes.
The visit was prompted by a request from local BJP MLA Hemant Rasane of the Kasba constituency. Gadkari arrived near Shaniwarwada in Shaniwar Peth, where Shivaji Road and Bajirao Road converge. Both roads operate one-way — Shivaji Road carries traffic toward Swargate, and Bajirao Road handles traffic toward Shaniwarwada — making the area particularly congested.
When Gadkari’s convoy reached the junction during peak hours, it became stuck in the gridlock. The minister then abandoned plans for a more detailed site visit and instead held a brief discussion with officials, Rasane, and Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil.
“Although the Union minister witnessed the bottleneck and recognized the need for the tunnels, the visit had to be cut short due to traffic. Poor coordination between the Pune Municipal Corporation and city police was also a factor,” explained Rasane.
Rasane has urged Gadkari to support the state government or PMC with central funding for the project. The minister assured that a meeting would be scheduled soon to explore all options.
The proposed project includes two tunnels — one connecting Shaniwarwada to Swargate and another linking Sarasbaug to Shaniwarwada — spanning a total of 2.5 km. Once completed, the tunnels would help decongest the historic city center, allowing an estimated one lakh daily commuters to travel more smoothly while preserving nearby heritage structures.
Following Rasane’s earlier plea to the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had instructed the Public Works Department to prepare a detailed project report, which is expected to be completed in the next two weeks.
